Innate Immune Cell Therapy with Stem Cell Transplants

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Approximately 80% of patients with chemo-resistant intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) will relapse following high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Our ability to further intensify chemotherapy to improve the outcome of ASCT has reached a plateau, necessitating a need for development of novel therapeutic strategies. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20, found on most B-cell NHL. As a single agent, rituximab is modestly effective with