Pros and Cons of the Immunogenicity of Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Treatment: A Lesson from Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract

The aim of this review is to report the current evidence on immunogenicity of monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) used in cancer compared with autoimmune diseases, focusing on local microenvironment. English abstracts were identified in Medline and www.clinicaltrials.gov. A total of 82 papers were selected. The percentage of immunogenicity of moAbs used for cancer therapy, evaluated as the serum concentration of antidrug antibodies, is significantly lower than that of moAbs used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. This condition may rely on a different immunologic background characterized by a hyperactivation of immune cells in autoimmune diseases. The formation of complexes between antidrug antibodies and non-neutralizing moAbs bound to neoplastic antigens may allow more efficient elimination of cancer cells, but additional studies are needed.

Keywords::

• autoimmune diseases
• cancer
• immunogenicity
• microenvironment
• monoclonal antibodies

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Author contributions

R Talotta conceived the original idea, drafted the manuscript, performed the bibliographic research and designed the figures; F Rucci contributed to the implementation of the research, to the analysis of the results and to the writing of the manuscript; G Canti and F Scaglione critically reviewed the manuscript. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript.