The therapeutic use of antibodies for malignancy

The idea of using the specificity of antibodies to target malignant cells w as put forward very soon after the discovery of techniques to generate mono clonal reagents. The responses seen with mouse anti-idiotype in patients wi th B-cell lymphomas indicated the potential of this approach, but it was so me years before key technical obstacles were overcome and the more widespre ad application of these therapies became possible. Whilst they were origina lly conceived as having an immunotherapeutic effect, it has become clear th at recruitment of immune effectors is only one component of successful anti body therapy, and their action upon the cellular target, either blocking or agonistic, is also critical. The development of immunoconjugates to delive r toxins or radiation is a further extension of the approach, and here agai n the intracellular effect of antibody ligation appears to be crucial. This presentation will address the central theme of antibody treatments for mal ignancy that are now reaching the clinic, and will use these examples to hi ghlight ways in which antibodies may be acting in vivo. (C) 2001 Editions s cientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.