CURRENT APPROACHES IN CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

tibbibiyolojiozel-3-2-25kapak

Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer Therapy

Klara DALVAa , Sevim DALVA AYDEMİRb
aAnkara University Cancer Research Institute, Ankara, Türkiye
bAnkara University Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biotechnology, Ankara, Türkiye

Dalva K, Dalva Aydemir S. Monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy. Sunguroğlu A, ed. Current Approaches in Cancer Immunotherapy. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.7-19.

ABSTRACT
Monoclonal antibodies are the mainstay of targeted cancer therapy. They work by enhancing immune system functions that suppress cancer cell activity and by directly or indirectly eliminating cancer cells with minimal damage to normal cells. These mechanisms by which they achieve this include ligand or receptor blockade, monoclonal antibody internalisation, activation of Fc gamma receptors on innate immune cells, complement activation and blockade of receptor-mediated oncogenic signalling. Early antibodies directly antagonised specific targets on cancer cells. The development of recombinant antibody technology, improved linker technologies and engineering of immunoglobulin molecules has led to increased specificity, potency, stability, half-life and the acquisition of additional effector functions to target the tumour and tumour microenvironment. Examples of therapeutic antibodies used include antibody fragments, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific and trispecific antibodies. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and the targeting of circulating cytokines are complementary therapies that can be used in combination with antibodies specific for tumour-associated antigens.

Keywords: Monoclonal antibodies; antineoplastic agents; immunotherapy; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunoconjugates

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