Different developments are being considered using ⁹⁰Y-anti-CD22 epratuzumab. An ongoing study sponsored by the GOELAMS French lymphoma group will assess fractionated ⁹⁰Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan RIT as consolidation after chemoimmunotherapy induction using CHOP-rituximab in first-line treatment of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The rationale for this consolidation treatment is the favorable targeting of MRD. This approach appears to be of interest in NHL patients >60 years old who are not candidates for BMTation. Targeting of antigens other than CD20 appears particularly interesting in the context of consolidation therapy, with the possibility of targeting populations of lymphoma cells not expressing CD20 or having lost its expression as a result of treatment. Moreover, the potential higher tumor doses delivered by fractionated ⁹⁰Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan could offer a higher tumor response of aggressive type of lymphoma, as compared to Zevalin.

Another important perspective is the clinical evaluation of dual-targeted antibody/radioantibody therapy (Sharkey et al. 2009a, b; Mattes et al. 2008). Combining an unconjugated anti-CD20 antibody therapy with a radioimmunoconjugate binding to a non-competing antigen might improve responses by allowing optimal uptake of each agent. Mattes et al. (2008) showed in animal model the benefit of targeting of a non-competing antigen for consolidation after RIT using ⁹⁰Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan. Tumor response and survival rates were improved when a consolidation using anti-CD20 veltuzumab was delivered after anti-CD22 RIT. Moreover, Sharkey et al. (2009a, b) demonstrated that injection of cold MAb after the radioactivity dose provided higher efficacy than injection before RIT, and that the amount of pre-dose of cold MAb should be minimized.