chlorambucil + rituximab

Chlorambucil + rituximab is a combination regimen consisting of chlorambucil, an oral alkylating agent, and rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 on B lymphocytes. This combination is primarily used as first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in elderly or unfit patients who are not candidates for more intensive regimens such as fludarabine-based therapies. It is also used in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes like follicular lymphoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma[1][5][8]. Chlorambucil induces DNA cross-linking leading to cell death, while rituximab mediates B-cell lysis through complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by binding to the CD20 antigen on B cells. The combination improves response rates and progression-free survival compared to monotherapy with either agent alone[1][2][5]. The regimen is generally well tolerated but associated with increased hematologic toxicity such as neutropenia and lymphopenia.

Other names

R-chlorambucilCHLO+RITU Regimen