The results are impressive and encouraging for this incurable form of cancer. After treatment with bexxar, the majority of the patients had a much longer period of time before the cancer reappeared compared with chemotherapy treatment. In addition, there are virtually no side effects with bexxar. One patient, who was treated a year ago, continues to have an excellent remission. It is too early to evaluate the response of the two patients who received treatment in October and one patient who was treated earlier this month.
Lymphocytes are cells produced by the lymph system and found in human blood.
All normal lympocytes have a specific antigen or protein marker on the surface of the cell, called CD-20. In cancerous lymphocytic cells, the marker attracts the bexxar monoclonal antibody. Once bexxar attaches to the cancerous cell, the radioactive tag kills the cancerous cell, as well as some surrounding normal cells. The normal cells usually grow back within 30 to 60 days. The patient is hospitalized for a few days following the injection of bexxar to ensure complete elimination of any radioactive material left in their body.