B-cell depleting immunotherapies: therapeutic opportunities and toxicities.

B-cell depleting immunotherapies: therapeutic opportunities and toxicities. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019 Jan 25;: Authors: Del Bufalo F, Merli P, Alessi I, Locatelli F Abstract INTRODUCTION: The last few years have witnessed what can certainly be defined as a "period of renaissance" for immunotherapy in the field of hematological malignancies. In particular, antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immunotherapy have significantly changed the treatment approach of patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. These therapies, initially employed in patients with refractory/relapsed disease, are now integrated in the treatment of newly diagnosed patients. Together with the therapeutic success, we have also learnt that these innovative therapies can induce relevant, sometimes life-threatening or even fatal, side effects. Areas covered: In this review article, we analyzed the applicative therapeutic scenario and the peculiar toxicities associated with approaches of immunotherapy, paying particular attention to the new emerging side effects, substantially unknown before the introduction of these therapies. Expert commentary: Both monoclonal antibodies and cell therapy with lymphocytes genetically modified to be redirected against leukemia targets through the transduction with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have obtained unprecedented success in rescuing patients with resistant B-cell malignancies. Complications, such as neurotoxicity...
Source: Expert Review of Clinical Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Expert Rev Clin Immunol Source Type: research