NCIt synonyms : Abraxane Coated with Rituximab 160nm Nanoparticle; Abraxane coated with Rituximab; Abraxane/Rituxan 160 Complex;
NCIt definition : A formulation composed of nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) paclitaxel, which is an
albumin-stabilized nanoparticle containing the natural taxane paclitaxel, non-covalently
coated with rituximab, a recombinant chimeric murine/human antibody directed against
the CD20 antigen found on B-lymphocytes, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon
administration of nab-paclitaxel/rituximab nanoparticle AR160, the rituximab moiety
specifically binds to CD20 and targets this formulation to CD20-positive tumor cells.
Paclitaxel binds to and stabilizes microtubules, which prevents depolymerization and
inhibits cellular motility, mitosis, and replication. This leads to cell death of
the CD20-expressing tumor cells that were targeted by this agent. The combination
of albumin-stabilization and rituximab-targeting allows for higher efficacy and decreased
paclitaxel-induced toxicity as it specifically targets CD20-expressing tumor cells.
Rituximab may also induce complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent
cellular toxicity.;
Semantic type(s)