MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES IN ONCOLOGY - DIAGN OSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS - EXAMPLE OF TUMOR-MARKERS

First described in 1975 by Kohler and Milstein, monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) result from the fusion of a B lymphocyte and a myeloma cell. Am ong the many uses of Mabs, oncology constitute a privileged, but diffi cult, field of investigation : the antigen heterogeneity and difficult y of access to tumors are major obstacles. In diagnosis, the Mabs allo w the identification and the quantification of tumor specific or tumor -associated antigens : the assay of circulating tumor markers is one o f the largest applications. In situ localization of tumors is also pos sible, using radiolabelled Mabs. In therapeutics, Mabs are used alone or linked to radionuclides, toxins, anticancer drugs or enzymes. Ex vi vo treatment of bone marrow is used in autologous and allegenic grafts . The use of mono (Fab,Fv) or bivalents (F(ab)'2) antibody fragments, chimeric or human Mabs, cocktails of Mabs, intended to improve sensiti vity and specificity of the tests, are the main prospects of this rese arch area.