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Monoclonal Antibodies in the Treatment of Cancer - Page 2

© David Olle

Monoclonal antibodies as described above will only be effective if the patient has a well functioning immune system. In order to improve the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies, scientists have conjugated (combined) them with toxins, chemotherapeutic agents and radioisotopes. These conjugated antibodies maintain their specificity, and release their toxins or radiation only after attaching to the cancer cells.

Work is well along towards developing "fully human" monoclonal antibodies. This procedure involves introducing human genes into mouse germline cells (eggs and sperm). As the mouse embryo develops, the genes code for and produce human antibodies. When the mouse is then injected with a tumor antigen, human antibodies specific against that antigen are produced. This technology will certainly accelerate the development of monoclonal antibodies against cancer.

References:

1. Freidrich, M. Cancer Source Targeting Tumors with Monoclonal Antibodies

2. Medscape Monoclonal Antibodies in the Treatment of Cancer (a series of articles in Medscape's Hematology-Oncology Treatment Updates).

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