Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Successes and Limitations

Abstract

Rituximab was the first chemotherapeutic monoclonal antibody (CmAb)

Pharmacogenetics of anticancer monoclonal antibodies

“…The development of mAbs has since evolved quickly, resulting in subsequent generations of mAbs that were chimeric (-ximab), humanised (-zumab) and fully human (-umab). Chimeric mAbs are composed of variable regions derived from mice, and the remainder [constant domains of heavy chain -C H (1)(2)(3) ] from human or other animals. Humanised mAbs are engineered from human sources and contain only a mouse derived antigen-binding fragment representing ~5% of the mAb.…”

“…Monoclonal antibodies have been developed to target cancer cells using a number of distinct and fascinating mechanisms. Naked antibodies that lack any type of drug conjugation work by either: (1) stimulating the immune system by binding to an antigen present on a cancer cell (alemtuzumab); (2) boosting the immune response via interaction with immune-checkpoint proteins (CTLA-4 inhibitors (ipilimumab)/ PD-1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab); or (3) blocking growth factor receptors on cancer cells (trastuzumab). In contrast, conjugated (tagged, labelled, loaded) mAbs work by carrying radioactive elements [radiolabelled antibodies -ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin)] or chemotherapeutic drugs [chemolabeled antibodiesbrentuximab vedotin (Adcetris)].…”

Introductory Chapter: Are We There Yet? The Long and Winding Road to Cancer Immunotherapy

“…They serve to bind to antigens and allow for flagging of cells with specific antigens for eradication. An antitumor monoclonal antibody is a genetically engineered immunoglobulin that is produced to recognize a specific tumor antigen on the surface of a cancer cell [31].…”

Biomimetics in immunology human and applications

“…+ Các kháng nguyên tự do (của các tế bào đích) có mặt trong tuần hoàn có thể liên kết với các mAb và ngăn chúng tác động trên các tế bào đích [23,24,25]. Hình 1.…”