IMR Press / FBL / Volume 11 / Issue 2 / DOI: 10.2741/1909

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Monoclonal antibody therapy
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1 Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2006, 11(2), 1620–1635; https://doi.org/10.2741/1909
Published: 1 May 2006
Abstract

The concept of targeted therapy was conceived through increased understanding of the biological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and subsequently identification of the most appropriate antigens to target. Monoclonal antibody therapy harnesses host defense mechanisms through activation of the antibody dependent cytotoxic pathway and complement mediated cytotoxicity. However, these two processes alone do not explain the therapeutic efficacy of antibody therapy; they also act by apoptotic signaling and growth inhibitory pathways. Conjugation of monoclonal antibody therapy, with radionuclides or toxins, offers more therapeutic approaches. Initial data demonstrates efficacy of single agent use, although combination therapy appears potentially more beneficial. Monoclonal antibody therapy is having a significant impact on many disease processes, particularly malignancies of solid and hematological origin. In this article, we shall review and discuss the monoclonal antibodies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). in the management of cancer.

Keywords
Monoclonal antibody
Treatment
Therapeutics
Immunotherapy
Cancer
Rituximab
Herceptin
Mylotarg
Campath-1H
Zevalin
Bexxar
Avastin
Cetuximab
Review
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