|
|
Alemtuzumab
- Article from:
-
Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
- Author:
- Johnson, Michelle
|
Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Alemtuzumab
Definition
Alemtuzumab is sold as Campath in the United States. Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to CD52, a protein found on the surface of normal and malignant B and T cells, and that is used to reduce the numbers of circulating malignant cells of patients who have B-cell
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(B-CLL).
Purpose
Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat B-CLL, one of the most prevalent forms of adult
chronic leukemia
. It specifically binds CD52, a protein found on the surface of essentially all B and T cells of the immune system. By binding the CD52 protein on the malignant B cells, the antibody targets it for ...