Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of solid tumours

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies are a new class of anticancer agents, with different mechanism of action and toxicity compared to other systemic methods of treatment. Antibodies, by binding with selected receptors on tumour cell surface, block signal transduction and inhibit tumour proliferation. Monoclonal antibodies have been tested in cancer patients for many years, but only recently introduction of chimeric and humanized forms with limited side effects allowed using these compounds in large clinical trials. Until now US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has registered eight anticancer monoclonal antibodies, including three for solid tumours. Those include trastuzumab, used in metastatic breast cancer, and cetuximab and bevacizumab, both used in advanced colon cancer. Ongoing clinical trials investigate new cancer indications for the use of monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, there is a continuous search for new monoclonal antibodies.