New era in cancer immunotherapy: Twenty years to the discovery of monoclonal antibodies harnessing the immune system to eradicate tumors

Britta Hardy,Annat Raiter

doi:10.4236/abb.2013.44a005

Abstract

The better understanding of the mechanism in which the immune system responds to the developing cancer provided the outcome in a new era in cancer immunotherapy. The tumor suppressive effect on the immune system is caused by negative T cell receptor signaling that abrogate immunity against the cancer cells. Novel monoclonal antibodies that target co-inhibitory receptors on T cells block the tumor induced inhibition of the immune system and enable the immune system to eradicate the tumors. The development of such antibodies started twenty years ago by the preparation of a monoclonal antibody termed BAT. A single administration of the antibody to tumor bearing mice resulted in striking anti tumor activity that was mediated by the lymphocytes. These studies provided a basis for the new era of cancer immunotherapy. The present review summarizes twenty years to the discovery of monoclonal antibodies harnessing the immune system to eradicate tumors.

Highlights

The interaction between cancer cells and the host immune system exhibits an intriguing and dynamic clash for life
The better understanding of the mechanism in which the immune system responds to the developing cancer provided the outcome in a new era in cancer immunotherapy
The present review summarizes twenty years to the discovery of monoclonal antibodies harnessing the immune system to eradicate tumors

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The interaction between cancer cells and the host immune system exhibits an intriguing and dynamic clash for life. The interaction between cancer cells and the host immune system induces inhibitory immune reactions that result in tumor escape and the development of clinically evident disease [1,4,5,6,7]. The B7 family of cosignaling molecules is expressed on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APC) and on T lymphocytes These co-signaling molecules provide significant positive signals that stimulate T-cell growth, up-regulate cytokine production and promote T-cell differentiation. Monoclonal antibodies directed against such tumor immune negative co-stimulatory receptors, suggested a promising novel approach for anticancer immunotherapy based on promoting immune responses against cancer as well as breaking up tumor resistance and dormancy

THE USE OF ANTIBODIES IN CANCER THERAPY

CONCLUSION