Use of bispecific antibodies in the therapy of tumors.
Progress toward an understanding of the construction and use of BsAb in therapy has been considerable. The importance of accessory (adhesion) molecules as well as the requirements for killing and the mechanisms by which cytotoxicity is mediated are being clarified. New approaches to simultaneous activation and targeting of effector cells have been developed. Most important, limited clinical trials have demonstrated little toxicity and in several instances promising responses and long-term survivals, if not cures. It seems likely, therefore, that BsAb will be very useful tools for therapy of tumors that may be most efficacious as an adjunct tumor therapy after surgery, chemotherapy, and/or irradiation in order to further reduce, and to potentially eliminate, tumor cells in the patient. Clearly, much remains to be done before BsAb are used routinely for therapy, but the results thus far demonstrate the considerable potential of BsAb to redirect and focus natural immune mechanisms in the treatment of tumors.
Fanger
M W
MW
Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03756.
Morganelli
P M
PM
Guyre
P M
PM
D000818:Animals; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; D000922:Immunotoxins