title: Therapeutic potential of anti-CD137 (4-1BB) monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  4-1BB (CD137) is an important T-cell stimulating molecule. The 4-1BB mAb or its variants have shown remarkable therapeutic activity against autoimmunity, viral infections, and cancer. Antibodies to 4-1BB have recently entered clinical trials for the treatment of cancer with favorable toxicity profile. In this article, we present a review documenting the efficacy and pitfalls of 4-1BB therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive literature search has been made on 4-1BB, spanning two decades, and a comprehensive report is presented here highlighting the origins, biological effects, therapeutic potential, and mechanistic basis of targeting 4-1BB as well as the side effects associated with such therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research so far indicates that 4-1BB is highly protective against various pathological conditions including cancer. However, a few important side effects of 4-1BB therapy such as liver toxicity, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and suppressive effects on certain immune competent cells should be taken into consideration before it is used for human therapy.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Tulane University, Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine , New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Dass S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Vinay
authors.affiliation: a 1 Tulane University, Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine , New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.|b 2 Cell and Immunobiology, and R & D Center for Cancer Therapeutics, National Cancer Center , Goyang 410-769, Korea ; bskwon@ncc.re.kr.
authors.forename: Byoung S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
keywords: 4-1BB; T cells; autoimmune disease; cancer; therapy