title: Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer.
abstract: Over the past decade, the clinical utility of monoclonal antibodies has been realized and antibodies are now a mainstay for the treatment of cancer. Antibodies have the unique capacity to target and kill tumor cells while simultaneously activating immune effectors to kill tumor cells through the complement cascade or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). This multifaceted mechanism of action combined with target specificity underlies the capacity of antibodies to elicit anti-tumor responses while minimizing the frequency and magnitude of adverse events. This review will focus on mechanisms of action, clinical applications and putative mechanisms of resistance to monoclonal antibody therapy in the context of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States. cws39@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Casey W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Shuptrine
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Surana
authors.forename: Louis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000187:drug effects*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007155:Immunologic Factors