Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the CD20 antigen found on the surface of pre-B and mature B-lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell involved in certain blood cancers, including some types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

When rituximab binds to the CD20 antigen on these cells, it triggers the immune system to attack and destroy the cancerous B cells. This process can occur through several mechanisms, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), where the body's complement system helps destroy the cell, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), where immune cells are recruited to kill the targeted B cells.

By reducing the number of abnormal B cells, rituximab helps control the progression of blood cancers. In pediatric patients with mature B-cell ALL, rituximab is used in combination with chemotherapy to improve treatment outcomes. After treatment, normal B cells typically recover over several months.

rituximab

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