Monoclonal Antibodies as Therapeutic Agents

In 1895, Hericourt and Richet reported the first clinical trials testing the principle of antibody production. They injected cancer cells into animals to obtain antiserum to treat cancer patients this was the first time several patients with cancer were administered tailor-made serum for treatment. Several patients showed improvement, which was encouraging, but none of the patients were completely cured. These trials were repeated in the early 1900s but the results were not consistent. The problems included the variability of the antisera and the side effects of polyclonal antibodies - some of which were directed against self. 

Historically, antibodies have been obtained from the serum of animals. The serum contains a mixture of polyclonal antibodies. In 1890, Emil Behring immunized rabbits and mice against tetanus and diphtheria and reported that the antitoxin serum could protect against a lethal dose of the toxin. Since then, antisera have been used to protect from pathogens and toxins, but serum sickness was a major drawback for their clinical use. Antisera may produce immune responses, which could cause severe allergic reactions, and may even lead to anaphylactic shock and death. 

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Harris M. Monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents for cancer. Lancet Oncol. 2004 5 292-302. 

Interest in the use of monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents has existed for a considerable time. Various monoclonal antibodies have been targeted to membrane-bound proteins specifically expressed in tumor cells. These antibodies can be designed in configurations likely to... 

Monoclonal antibodies have a significant potential as therapeutic agents because of their ability to bind to specific structures as targets. This principle of targeted therapy results in high clinical efficacy whilst minimizing adverse reactions, and thus increases mAb tolerability and use. 

A monoclonal antibody is an antibody (immunoglobulin molecule) that is produced by recombinant DNA technology this results in all molecules being identical in structure. These monoclonal antibodies are of high purity and are produced in sufficiently large quantities for use as therapeutic agents. 

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