# CD20

Source: https://nuclide.cc/targets/cd20/  
Nuclide record `cd20` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from Nuclide (nuclide.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

CD20 is a B-cell marker; rituximab against it was the first antibody approved for cancer, in 1997.

## Summary

CD20 (MS4A1) is a B-cell tetraspanin that regulates calcium flux; it is not internalised, which favours effector-based antibodies and T-cell engagers over ADCs, and it is present on over 95% of DLBCL and, more dimly, over 90% of CLL. It is the target of rituximab, the first antibody approved for cancer in 1997, and of obinutuzumab. The CD20×CD3 bispecifics glofitamab, epcoritamab, mosunetuzumab, and odronextamab now offer off-the-shelf T-cell redirection in lymphoma without the manufacturing wait of CAR-T. Loss of CD20 expression is a recognised escape route after repeated anti-CD20 therapy, and the best sequencing of bispecifics versus CAR-T is still being worked out. The simple version is the B-cell marker that started antibody therapy for cancer and now anchors the newest T-cell engagers.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Tags: antibody-target
- Symbol: MS4A1
- Class: surface-antigen
- Biology: CD20 is a tetraspanin regulating B-cell calcium flux; it is not internalised, favouring effector-based antibodies over ADCs.
- Where found: DLBCL; Follicular lymphoma; CLL; Mantle cell lymphoma

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD20
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD20

## Connected records

- indications: [Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma](https://nuclide.cc/indications/dlbcl/), [Follicular lymphoma](https://nuclide.cc/indications/follicular-lymphoma/)
- drugs: [Ibritumomab tiuxetan](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/ibritumomab-tiuxetan/), [Iodine-131 tositumomab](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/i-131-tositumomab/), [Rituximab](https://nuclide.cc/drugs/rituximab/)
- institutions: [IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico Sant'Orsola](https://nuclide.cc/institutions/sant-orsola-bologna/)
- pairings: [Rituximab pretreatment before ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin)](https://nuclide.cc/pairings/rituximab-then-ibritumomab-tiuxetan/)
- technologies: [Pretargeted radioimmunotherapy](https://nuclide.cc/technologies/pretargeted-radioimmunotherapy/)

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