Receptor blockade with monoclonal antibodies as anti-cancer therapy.
Human tumors express high levels of growth factors and their receptors, and many types of malignant cells appear to exhibit autocrine- or paracrine-stimulated growth. Therefore, antireceptor directed therapies have the potential of being useful anti-cancer agents. A series of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against human growth factor receptors and their corresponding growth factors have been produced. MAbs against the receptors for epidermal growth factor, Her2/Neu, transferrin, insulin-like growth factor, interleukin, (IL)-2 and IL-1 are currently being evaluated. MAbs directed against epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, bombesin, IL-2, and IL-6 also are under study. These MAbs have shown promising preclinical activity, and some of them are being tested in clinical trials. So far, anti-tumor responses have been observed with anti-IL-2 receptor, anti-bombesin and anti-IL-6 MAbs. Further research is focusing in the production of "chimeric" and "humanized" MAbs, in order to obviate the problem of host immune reactions.
Baselga
J
J
Laboratory of Receptor Biology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
Mendelsohn
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006133:Growth Substances; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor