NEW APPROACHES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF HUMAN CANCER

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) represent potentially important reagents for both the diagnosis and therapy of human cancer. Innovative approac hes are resulting in the improved production of MAbs and an enhanced a bility to use these molecules therapeutically. Application of genetic engineering to MAb development is also resulting in the production of MAbs displaying enhanced target specificity. Of particular value for c ancer therapy will be catalytic, bispecific, anti-idiotypic and human MAbs. By using agents that can augment the expression of tumor-associa ted antigens on cancer cells, a further increase in the utility of MAb s in cancer therapy will be forthcoming.