Novel Anticancer Monoclonal Antibodies
1126-1132
Correspondence
Dr. Rashmi Sharma MD(Pharmacology), DMCH.J&K Health Services Jammu-180004.E.mail: rashmichams@yahoo.com
The recent clinical success of anticancer antibodies like rituximab and trastuzumab has created great interest in antibody-based therapeutics for hematopoietic and solid tumor malignancies. The objective of this study is to review monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) used in oncology and to describe their pharmacological characteristics. Prominent general/internal medicine journals (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED between 2000 and 2007) were searched for review papers and clinical trials published on MAbs as novel anticancer drugs. These anticancer MAbs act by inducing lysis of cancer cells (rituximab, alemtuzumab), by targeting receptors involved in cell growth and proliferation of cells (trastuzumab, cetuximab, bevacizumab) and by delivering radioisotopes to cancer cells (tositumomab conjugated with I131) and cytotoxic molecule (gemtuzumab). Therapy with MAbs has been recognized as a promising therapeutic tool in the field of oncology and a large number of molecules are currently undergoing clinical trials. It is hoped that rational development of combination of multiple therapies directed at different targets, along with unique chemotherapy agents, MAbs and antisense or other cytokines will lead to more effective approaches for cancer patients.