Abstract
Rituximab in combination with chemotherapy is considered a standard treatment approach for first line setting in most of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Although most patients can reach complete of partial remission after this treatment, about 30 % of patients with aggressive lymphoma and almost all patients with advanced stage indolent lymphomas inevitably develop a relaps.
The maintenance therapy with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, represents one of the options how to extend disease-free interval in lymphoma patients. The aim of this article is to summarize information about the rituximab maintenance therapy of lymphoma, with respect to the current approved indications as well as to future directions, including potentially risks of this approach.