Cancer Treatment Today

Rituximab is an agent with a variety of immunologic effects mediated thorugh its effects on B-lymphocytes. Unfortunately, there is no effective therapy for severe lung disease caused by scleroderma that is not responding to immunosuppression. Two observational studies, one with 8 and one with 15 patients revealed conflicting results. One very small prospective study with 8 patients who received rituximab and six who had not had been performed and showed encouraging results(Daoussius et al). These remain preliminary findings and more research clearly needs to be conducted.

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