Rituximab is widely used in CD20-positive B-cell lymphomas. The antigenic target of rituximab is:

• A CD19 on all B-cell lineage cells including plasma cells
• B CD52 on mature lymphocytes
• C CD38 on plasma cells
• D CD20 on pre-B cells and mature B cells but not stem cells or plasma cells ✓

Explanation

Rituximab binds CD20, expressed from the pre-D cell stage through mature D cells but absent on haematopoietic stem cells and terminally differentiated plasma cells. This explains why D-cell counts recover after therapy and why immunoglobulin levels are relatively preserved. CD19 is the target of blinatumomab and CAR-T products, CD38 of daratumumab, and CD52 of alemtuzumab.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.