Monoclonal and bispecific antibodies as novel therapeutics

• Authors: E.P. Booy , D. Johar , S. Maddika , H. Pirzada , M.M. Sahib , I. Gehrke , S. Loewen , S.F. Louis , K. Kadkhoda , M. Mowat , M. Los
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Gene amplification, over-expression, and mutation of growth factors, or the receptors themselves, causes increased signaling through receptor kinases, which has been implicated in many human cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. Tumor growth has been shown to be decreased by interrupting this process of extensive growth factor-mediated signaling by directly targeting either the surface receptor or the ligand and thereby preventing cell survival and promoting apoptosis. Monoclonal antibodies have long been eyed as a potential new class of therapeutics targeting cancer and other diseases. Antibody-based therapy initially entered clinical practice when trastuzumab/Herceptin became the first clinically approved drug against an oncogene product as a well-established blocking reagent for tumors with hyperactivity of epidermal growth factor signaling pathways. In the first part of this review we explain basic terms related to the development of antibody-based drugs, give a brief historic perspective of the field, and also touch on topics such as the 'humanization of antibodies' or creation of hybrid antibodies. The second part of the review gives an overview of the clinical usage of bispecific antibodies and antibodies 'armed' with cytotoxic agents or enzymes. Further within this section, cancer-specific, site-specific, or signaling pathway-specific therapies are discussed in detail. Among other antibody-based therapeutic products, we discuss: Avastin (bevacizumab), CG76030, Theragyn (pemtumomab), daclizumab (Zenapax), TriAb, MDX-210, Herceptin (trastuzumab), panitumumab (ABX-EGF), mastuzimab (EMD-72000), Erbitux (certuximab, IMC225), Panorex (edrecolomab), STI571, CeaVac, Campath (alemtuizumab), Mylotarg (gemtuzumab, ozogamicin), and many others. The end of the review deliberates upon potential problems associated with cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords

EN

BISPECIFIC ANTIBODY; MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY; THERAPEUTICS

Discipline

• IMMUNOLOGY: IMMUNOLOGY

• Publisher: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis
• Year: 2006
• Volume: 54
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 85-101

Contributors

author

E.P. Booy

author

D. Johar

author

S. Maddika

author

H. Pirzada

author

M.M. Sahib

author

I. Gehrke

author

S. Loewen

author

S.F. Louis

author

K. Kadkhoda

author

M. Mowat

author

M. Los

• Document Type: REVIEW
• Publication order reference: Marek Los, Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, ON6010-675 McDermot Ave., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada