Non-myeloablative radioimmunotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Iodine 131-tositumomab and ibritumomab tiuxetan, radioimmunoconjugates that target the CD20 antigen, have been approved in the United States for use in relapsed or refractory, indolent, and transformed B-cell lymphomas. These well-tolerated agents have among the highest single-agent activity observed for these histologies. Furthermore, emerging data suggest a role for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) as upfront therapy of indolent lymphoma, with expanding utility in the treatment of more aggressive histologies. This review will summarize the key trials that led to approval of both (131)I-tositumomab and ibritumomab tiuxetan, discuss recent publications on re-treatment and therapy of de novo indolent lymphoma and aggressive histologies, and conclude with new topics in RIT.