The development of monoclonal antibody therapy in leukemias

Conventional cytotoxic management of leukemia has less than optimal results , while it is associated,vith life-threatening toxic effects due to lack of specificity for hematopoietic cells. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategi es with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are being explored for delivering chem otherapy or radiation directly to malignant cells. Recently, anti-CD33 anti bodies have been engineered to target malignant myeloid and immature normal cells and have been used to deliver cytotoxic agents or radiation to leuke mic cells. 131I-labeled anti-CD45 antibodies are used in combination with c onventional chemotherapy in leukemic patients receiving marrow transplantat ion. Additionally, the emergence of Rituximab (against CD20) and Campath-1H (against CD52) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has provided encoura ging clinical results for the prognosis of this disease. In conclusion, the re has been ongoing research indicating that the approach of patients with leukemia through the application of MAbs might be safer and more effective than current treatment. Considering the preliminary data, MAb therapy appea rs to be a new, promising weapon in the oncologist's armentarium.