A phase 1/2 trial of ublituximab, a novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia previously exposed to rituximab.

This phase 1/2 study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetic behavior and anti-tumour activity of ublituximab, a unique type I, chimeric, glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in rituximab-relapsed or -refractory patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Induction therapy (doses of 450-1200 mg) consisted of 4 weekly infusions in cycle 1 for NHL and 3 weekly infusions in cycles 1 and 2 for CLL. Patients received ublituximab maintenance monthly during cycles 3-5, then once every 3 months for up to 2 years.

Effect of environment and research participant characteristics on data quality.

The purpose of this study, a component of a randomized clinical trial, was to assess the influence of the emergency department environment and participant characteristics on the accuracy of self-reported health care utilization. Interviews of 612 seniors aged 65 to 93 were conducted in two emergency departments. The research assistant, upon completion of each interview, rated characteristics of the emergency department and compared participants' self-reports of emergency department use and hospitalization during the previous 4 weeks with data from hospital records: 3.

Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor: novel therapeutics in the management of cancer.

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in epithelial tumors, including head and neck, lung, breast, colon and other solid tumors, has frequently been correlated with poor prognosis, thus stimulating efforts to develop new cancer therapies that target EGFR. Monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors specifically targeting EGFR are the most well-studied and hold substantial promise of success. Several compounds of monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting EGFR have been studied and clinical trials are now underway to test the safety and efficacy of these targeting strategies in several human tumors.

Advances in the management of malignant mesothelioma.

Malignant mesotheliomas are very aggressive tumors that originate from mesothelial cells, which form the serosal lining of the pleura, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Finding effective chemotherapeutic treatment for malignant mesothelioma is a challenge. There is no standard treatment because this tumor is relatively resistant to therapy.