The role of ofatumumab in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia resistant to previous therapies

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an indolent but incurable disease. Despite the improvement of the available therapies, the management of heavily-treated CLL patients represents a challenge for modern practitioners. Ofatumumab is a second-generation, fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has shown activity in CLL patients who have failed very effective therapies such as fludarabine, alemtuzumab and rituximab. Potential benefits of ofatumumab include powerful complement-dependent cytotoxicity, less immunogenicity, faster infusions and activity in resistant CLL patients. Recently, the FDA has approved ofatumumab for the treatment of CLL patients who have failed fludarabine and alemtuzumab-based regimens. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding pharmacology, mechanism of action, pre-clinical and clinical development, and the role of ofatumumab for the treatment of CLL patients who have failed previous therapies. Further research is necessary to further define the role of ofatumumab in the treatment of CLL.