Statins impair antitumor effects of rituximab by inducing conformational changes of CD20.

Background Rituximab is used in the treatment of CD20 þ B cell lymphomas and other B cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Its clinical efficacy might be further improved by combinations with other drugs such as statins that inhibit cholesterol synthesis and show promising antilymphoma effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of statins on rituximab-induced killing of B cell lymphomas.