title: Monoclonal antibodies for brain tumour treatment.
abstract: Conventional treatment of brain tumours includes surgical, radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic modalities. Nonetheless, the outcome of patients with brain tumours, in particular glioblastoma, remains poor. Immunotherapy with armed or unarmed monoclonal antibodies targeting tumour-specific antigens has emerged in the last two decades as a novel potential adjuvant treatment for all types of neoplasia. Many challenges to its implementation as a safe and viable therapy for brain tumours still need to be addressed; nevertheless, results from ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials are encouraging, as disease stabilisation and patient survival prolongation have been observed. Advances in preclinical and clinical research indicate that treatment of brain tumours with monoclonal antibodies can be increasingly adjusted to the characteristics of the targeted tumour and its environment. This aspect relies on the careful selection of the target antigen and corresponding specific monoclonal antibody, and antibody format (size, class, affinity), conjugation to the appropriate toxin or radioactive isotope (half-life, range), and proper compartmental administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boskovitz
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wikstrand
authors.forename: Chien-Tsun
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zalutsky
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Darell D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Bigner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005732:Gangliosides; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D000922:Immunotoxins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals