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Advantages of Monoclonal Therapy in Cancer

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are laboratory-created molecules that imitate the antibodies produced by the immune system. MAbs are distinguished from natural antibodies in their ability to find and mark cancer cells as foreign bodies for the immune system to attack. MAbs may also be combined with cancer-fighting drugs. MAbs deliver these agents directly to the tumor, limiting the damage to healthy cells.

  1. Monoclonal Antibodies

    • MAbs confer passive immunity; that is, the immune system is not activated until the MAbs mark the cancer cells. The first monoclonal antibodies were produced by combining bone marrow cancer (myeloma) cells with a specific type of antibody in mice, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The mouse antibody recognizes an antigen unique to cancer cells and the myeloma provides longevity. The mouse component of MAbs may stimulate an immune response against the MAb. Although some MAbs still use mouse antibodies, newer compounds use a combination of mouse and human proteins (chimeric MAbs) or only human proteins (humanized MAbs).

    Activity

    • The immune system does not recognize cancer cells as a threat because cancer cells are normal cells that have lost the ability to regulate their growth. MAbs bind to specific proteins on the cancer cells and tag them as dangerous, according to the Mayo Clinic. MAbs may also block the chemical pathway that triggers cell growth.

    Use for Cancer Treatment

    • MAbs can be used alone to treat cancer or they may be combined with radioactive particles, chemotherapeutic agents or toxins. Naked MAbs, or those without drugs or radioactive particles attached, are most commonly used for cancer treatment. MAbs with chemotherapeutic agents attached are called conjugated, tagged or labeled MAbs. Conjugated MAbs deliver the therapy directly to the cancer cells, limiting the damage to healthy cells, according to ACS. Although conjugated MAbs are more effective than naked MAbs, they are also associated with more side effects because of the attached agents.

    Side Effects

    • MAbs are injected so the most common side effects are reactions at the injection site. Other common side effects include flu-like symptoms (such as chills, fatigue and fever), nausea, diarrhea and skin rashes. Low blood cell count, bleeding, sores and severe allergic reactions are uncommon.

    Considerations

    • MAbs are used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and cancers of the colon, breast, lung and head and neck. Before beginning treatment with MAbs ask your doctor about the effectiveness of the specific MAb treatment you will receive. Some treatments prolong life, whereas others slow tumor growth but have little effect on survival, according to the Mayo Clinic. Also ask about side effects and the cost, since MAb therapy may not be covered by insurance. If MAb therapy is unavailable for your situation, ask about participation in a clinical trial.

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