Abstract
Several recent scientific and technical developments have made it possible to postulate the use of the 'magic bullet' concept; that is, the identification of specific antigens present on tumor cells that can be targeted either by therapeutic antibodies or by small molecules. The use of monoclonal antibodies in cancer, in particular, has moved beyond the proof-of-concept stage, and many such antibodies are presently being tested in the clinic. Several antibodies have been successfully developed and are now in use against various cancers, and we can expect many more to become available in the next few years. The use and development of these new therapeutics represent significant opportunities but also new challenges.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Antigens, CD20 / immunology
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Benzamides
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Chemokines / metabolism
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Drug Therapy
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Genes, abl / physiology
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Genes, erbB-2 / physiology
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Humans
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Imatinib Mesylate
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Integrins / metabolism
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Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / drug therapy*
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Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / drug therapy*
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Metalloproteases / metabolism
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Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy
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Piperazines / pharmacology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
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Pyrimidines / pharmacology
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Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / metabolism
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Rituximab
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Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Trastuzumab
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Antigens, CD20
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Benzamides
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Chemokines
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Integrins
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Piperazines
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Pyrimidines
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Rituximab
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ibritumomab tiuxetan
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Imatinib Mesylate
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
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Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
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Metalloproteases
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tositumomab I-131
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Trastuzumab