title: Immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy.
abstract: Increasing immune responses with immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to immune-receptor molecules is a new and exciting strategy in cancer therapy. This expanding class of agents functions on crucial receptors, either antagonizing those that suppress immune responses or activating others that amplify immune responses. Complications such as autoimmunity and systemic inflammation are problematic side effects associated with these agents. However, promising synergy has been observed in preclinical models using combinations of immunostimulatory antibodies and other immunotherapy strategies or conventional cancer therapies. Importantly, mAbs of this type have now entered clinical trials with encouraging initial results.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA) and Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. imelero@unav.es
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melero
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hervas-Stubbs
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glennie
authors.forename: Drew M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pardoll
authors.forename: Lieping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal