Improving the treatment outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia through targeted antibody therapy.

Therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has evolved dramatically throughout the years. In 1997, rituximab (Rituxan), a CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb), became the first mAb approved by the Food and Drug Administration for marketing in the treatment of cancer, specifically targeting B-cell malignancies. Over the last 10 years, rituximab or other mAbs including alemtuzumab and ofatumumab have become an integral part of the standard of care for CLL patients as single agents or in combination with chemotherapy or other immunotherapy. This review discusses the currently approved and novel mAbs for the treatment of CLL.