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Anti-CD37 targeted immunotherapy of B-Cell malignancies

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Abstract

CD37 is a member of tetra-spanning superfamily (characterized by their four transmembrane domains). It is one of the specific proteins for normal and malignant mature B cells. Anti CD37 monoclonal antibodies are reported to improve the overall survival in CLL. These therapeutics will increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity in patients with both newly diagnosed and relapsed and refractory disease. Recent clinical trials have shown promising outcomes for these agents, administered both as monotherapy and in combination with standard chemotherapeutics. Long-term follow-up of combination regimens has even raised the question of whether the patients with CLL could be treated with intensive chemo-immunotherapy. In the present study, CD37 is introduced as an appealing target to treat B cell malignancies. The anti-CD37 antibodies as one of the most successful therapeutics against CD37 are introduced and the clinical outcomes of their exploitation are explained.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University and Zanjan University of Medical Sciences for support to conduct this work.

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Correspondence to Saeed Khalili.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Payandeh, Z., Noori, E., Khalesi, B. et al. Anti-CD37 targeted immunotherapy of B-Cell malignancies. Biotechnol Lett 40, 1459–1466 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-018-2612-6

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