Role of monoclonal antibodies in tumor-specific immunity

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies, considered to be ‘magic bullets’ 20 years ago, may finally be realizing their full potential, particularly in the area of oncology, where > 10 monoclonal antibodies are approved for treatment. Monoclonal antibodies are being used to modulate tumor-specific immunity through several approaches: antibodies that direct cytotoxicity against the tumor through cellular or complement-mediated pathways; antibodies that directly modulate immune regulation; antibodies that alter tolerance to tumor antigens; and antibodies that act as antigen mimetics through the anti-idiotype network. Therapeutic progress in these areas is reviewed as well as the potential to combine these approaches with standard therapies.

Keywords::

• antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
• anti-idiotype
• cancer
• CD25
• complement-dependent cytotoxicity
• cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4
• monoclonal antibodies
• oregovomab
• TGF-β

Acknowledgements

The authors thank D Sheff for assistance with the manuscript.

Notes