Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) might induce tumour cell death by a multitude of mechanisms of actions. Principally monoclonal antibodies can be used unconjugated or conjugated to a toxic substance. So far, unconjugated MAb have been most successful and used extensively for treatment of malignant diseases. Several unconjugated therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are on the market and there are a lot more to be launched. Unconjugated MAb have two fundamentally different ways of action. If the MAb recognise a target structure involved in cell proliferation or apoptosis, the MAb may cause programmed cell death or tumour cell cycle arrest by binding to the relevant domain of the tumour antigen and deliver a signal inducing tumour destruction in vivo without activating the immune system [1]. Monoclonal antibodies may also enhance various immune effector functions which can mediate tumour cell destruction. Immune functions which spontaneously might kill tumour cells include antibodies, unspecific cytotoxic cells (monocytes/macrophages, NK cells, granulocytes, eosinophils) and specific killer cells (various T lymphocyte subsets). In this paper, host's immune responses against the tumour enhanced by monoclonal antibodies are reviewed. antigen with a certain degree of specificity even if the normal counterpart is a cell structure of a normal non-transformed cell.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call