Therapeutic Antibodies and Immunologic Conjugates

Published on 04/03/2015 by admin

Filed under Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine

Last modified 04/03/2015

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Chapter 32

Therapeutic Antibodies and Immunologic Conjugates

Summary of Key Points

• Because of their tumor selectivity, monoclonal antibodies offer exceptional opportunities for targeted therapy.

• When naked, monoclonal antibodies can kill tumors by receptor blockade and by actively inducing apoptosis.

• Tumor cytotoxicity is mediated through white cells by activating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and in the presence of serum, by complement-mediated cytotoxicity.

• Bispecific or multifunctional constructs can greatly enhance the antitumor effect of antibodies.

• Antibodies can deliver effector molecules in the form of drug conjugates, radioimmunoconjugates, immunocytokines, immunotoxins, immunoenzymes, immunoliposomes, and retargeted killer cells.

• Naked antibodies generally do not have overlapping toxicity profiles with chemotherapy and radiation therapies, and dose-limiting toxicities of immunoconjugates vary depending on the cytotoxic moiety (e.g., myelosuppression in radioimmunoconjugates) being used.

• Antibodies are likely to be most beneficial at the time of minimal residual disease, especially when used in conjunction with standard therapy.

• The following antibodies are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration and are in use for the cancers listed (target molecule in bold):