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A proportion of adult pre–B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) express the CD20 antigen, and thus may benefit from the addition of rituximab — a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets CD20 — to the treatment regimen.
To evaluate this potential benefit, investigators conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial involving 209 adults (ages, 18–59) with CD20-positive, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative precursor B-cell ALL. Patients received intensive induction therapy followed by consolidation, late intensification, late consolidation, and maintenance phases of therapy, with or without rituximab during each phase. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS).
Fewer relapses were observed in the rituximab-treated pati…