Patent ID: 6287537
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A61K,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method for immunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma, which comprises:(i) administering to a patient an imaging effective amount of a first antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, wherein said first antibody or said first antibody portion is trace-labelled with a first radiolabel and binds to CD20 antigen present on the surface of cells of said B-cell lymphoma;(ii) imaging the distribution of said first antibody or said first antibody portion within the body of the patient;(iii) administering to the patient an amount of a second antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, wherein said second antibody or said second antibody portion is unlabelled and binds to CD20 antigen present on the surface of cells of said B-cell lymphoma, said amount of said second antibody or said second antibody portion effective for blocking non-tumor binding sites for a third antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, used for treating said B-cell lymphoma; and(iv) administering to the patient a radioimmunotherapeutically effective amount for treating B-cell lymphoma of said third antibody or said third antibody portion, wherein said third antibody or said third antibody portion is labelled with said first radiolabel or with a different radiolabel and binds to CD20 antigen present on the surface of cells of said B-cell lymphoma, wherein the amount of radioactivity is less than that which causes myelosuppression severe enough to require the reintroduction of hematopoietic stem cells into the patient in order for the patient to recover hematopoietic function.