It is intended to provide a tool, a procedure and so on which are useful
in developing a therapeutic strategy efficacious in inhibiting or
overcoming the resistance against a CD20-directed molecular-targeted
drug. Thus, a CD20-negatively converted B-cell malignant lymphocyte cell
line is provided. Also, a model animal indicating the pathological
conditions of CD20-negatively converted B-cell malignant lymphocyte is
provided. Further, a method of screening a substance, which is
efficacious against CD20-positive B-cell malignant lymphocyte or
CD20-negatively converted B cell malignant lymphocyte, is provided.
Furthermore, a drug against CD20-positive B-cell malignant lymphocyte or
CD20-negatively converted B-cell malignant lymphocyte, which is
characterized by being used together with a CD20-directed
molecular-targeted drug, is provided. In one embodiment, a DNA methylase
inhibitor or a histone deacetylase inhibitor is employed as the active
ingredient.