Abstract
Rituximab is the first historically registered monoclonal antibody approved by FDA in 1997 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. This chimeric monoclonal antibody is directed against the CD20 antigen that is found on B-lymphocytes.
The mechanism of its effect leads to additional research, and the results contribute to the extension of indication and its use in the treatment of number of diseases, even beyond hematooncology. Rituximab introduction as a monotherapy or combination into clinical practice lead to a turning point in the treatment and changed the fate of patients.
Its minimal toxicity and higher specificity of effects, and thus better quality of life, is the advantage. Rituximab, and generally targeted treatment with monoclonal antibodies, represents highly specific treatment that became a standard part of treatment regimens in number of diseases.