Combining yttrium 90-labeled ibritumomab tiuxetan with high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell support in patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Targeted radioimmunotherapy, including yttrium 90-labeled ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin(R)) and iodine I 131 tositumomab (Bexxar(R)), has the potential to increase the cure rate for patients with CD20(+) B-cell malignancies who are undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The results of phase I and II trials suggest that radioimmunoconjugates can be safely combined with high-dose chemotherapy, although the optimal approach remains to be established. This review focuses on the use of Y-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan combined with high-dose chemotherapy in the setting of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.