title: Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of non-haematological tumours: update of an expanding scenario.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of cell membrane-bound molecules with a relevant role in cancer cell survival prompted the development of moAbs to block the related pathways. In the last few years, the number of approved moAbs for cancer treatment has constantly increased. Many of these drugs significantly improved the survival outcomes in patients with solid tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, all the FDA-approved moAbs in solid tumours have been described. This is an update of moAbs available for cancer treatment nowadays in comparison with the moAbs approved until few years ago. The moAbs under development are also discussed here.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The research on cancer antigens as therapeutic targets led to an expanding scenario of available treatment options in non-haematological malignancies. In a few years, the number of approved drugs has increased rapidly. Some of these agents are actually on label in combination with standard chemotherapy. Only some of them can be delivered as monotherapy. The research on these new drugs is addressing both the identification of further target molecules in key cancer-related pathways and the improvement of drug effectiveness by changing the affinity and the selectivity of a moAb relative to its target.
authors.affiliation: University of Palermo, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bronte
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sortino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passiglia
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lo Vullo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galvano
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bazan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolfo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017277:Drug Approval; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal
keywords: EGFR; HER2; VEGF; cancer; cancer antigen; cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4; immunotherapy; moAbs; receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand