Health and Fitness

What are Monoclonal Antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, are proteins produced by the body’s immune system that can recognize and bind to specific molecules or targets. These proteins have been used for decades in the medical sciences for treating a variety of diseases, including cancer.

The history of mAbs in cancer treatment dates back centuries. The first report on the use of mAbs to treat cancer was published in 1892, when a French physician named Charles-Étienne Guérin used an antibody against bovine serum albumin to treat a patient with sarcoidosis. More than a century later, mAbs are still widely used in cancer treatment.You may check this link if you want to know more about Monoclonal Antibodies.

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Why are mAbs so effective against cancer? 

One reason is that they can bind to many different types of tumor cells. Additionally, mAb therapy often involves administering multiple doses over time, which helps to target and kill tumor cells more effectively.

There are many types of mAbs currently available for use in cancer treatment. Each has unique properties that make it particularly effective against different types of tumors.  

Cell -based mAbs are made from the patient's own immune cells. These mAbs bind to certain "markers" on tumor cells, which allows immune cells to detect and attack the cancer cell.ADC mAbs are linked to a cytotoxic agent (like radium or doxorubicin).

This helps target cancer cells more effectively, while also causing minimal damage to healthy tissue in the body. ADCs may be injected directly into the tumor, or administered by another route (such as intravenous infusion), depending on the type of ADC used.