title: Challenges and opportunities for monoclonal antibody therapy in veterinary oncology.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have come to dominate the biologics market in human cancer therapy. Nevertheless, in veterinary medicine, very few clinical trials have been initiated using this form of therapy. Some of the advantages of mAb therapeutics over conventional drugs are high specificity, precise mode of action and long half-life, which favour infrequent dosing of the antibody. Further advancement in the field of biomedical sciences has led to the production of different forms of antibodies, such as single chain antibody fragment, Fab, bi-specific antibodies and drug conjugates for use in diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This review describes the potential for mAbs in veterinary oncology in supporting both diagnosis and therapy of cancer. The technical and financial hurdles to facilitate clinical acceptance of mAbs are explored and insights into novel technologies and targets that could support more rapid clinical development are offered.
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Breno C B
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Beirão
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Department of Veterinary Sciences, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raposo
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hupp
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom. Electronic address: david.argyle@roslin.ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Argyle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000662:veterinary*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal
keywords: Biologicals; Idiotype; Monoclonal antibodies; Therapy; Veterinary oncology