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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis
Published on: May 4, 2017
[Rituximab: mechanism of action and resistance]
Stéphane Dalle1, Charles Dumontet
1Inserm U590, Laboratoire de cytologie analytique, Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, 8, avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon. stephane.dalle@chu-lyon.fr
Rituximab is now routinely use in clinical practice for B cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treatment. Mechanisms of action of this monoclonal antibody are not fully understood. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement dependent toxicity (CDC) and apoptosis have been all shown to play a role. But the prominence of each mechanism is considerably varying among the different reports, the studied cell lines and the experimental models. A lack of explanations still exists between the efficacy observed in vivo and the low reproducible cytotoxicity reproduced shown in vitro. Despite an intensive research, most of the mechanisms of resistance to rituximab are unknown.
Rituximab is now routinely use in clinical practice for B cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treatment. Mechanisms of action of this monoclonal antibody are not fully understood. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement dependent toxicity (CDC) and apoptosis have been all shown to play a role. But the prominence of each mechanism is considerably varying among the different reports, the studied cell lines and the experimental models. A lack of explanations still exists between the efficacy observed in vivo and the low reproducible cytotoxicity reproduced shown in vitro. Despite an intensive research, most of the mechanisms of resistance to rituximab are unknown.
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