Therapeutic antibodies

Definition

Therapeutic antibodies are engineered proteins designed to specifically target and bind to antigens, such as proteins on the surface of cancer cells or pathogens, to treat various diseases. These antibodies can modulate immune responses, inhibit disease progression, or deliver drugs directly to diseased cells, making them a critical tool in modern medicine, particularly in oncology and autoimmune disorders.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Therapeutic antibodies can be created through techniques like hybridoma technology, where B cells producing desired antibodies are fused with myeloma cells to create stable cell lines.
2. These antibodies can be engineered to enhance their efficacy and reduce side effects, such as by modifying their Fc region to improve binding to immune cells.
3. Therapeutic antibodies can be classified into several types based on their origin: murine (mouse-derived), chimeric (part mouse and part human), humanized (mostly human with some mouse components), and fully human antibodies.
4. The first therapeutic antibody approved by the FDA was Muromonab-CD3 in 1986, used to prevent transplant rejection.
5. Therapeutic antibodies are not only used in cancer treatments but also for autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and various other conditions, showcasing their versatility.

Review Questions

• How do therapeutic antibodies function in the treatment of diseases, particularly in targeting cancer cells?
  • Therapeutic antibodies function by specifically binding to antigens present on the surface of cancer cells. This binding can trigger an immune response that targets and destroys the cancer cells or inhibit signaling pathways that promote cancer growth. By utilizing their ability to direct the immune system's action towards these targeted cells, therapeutic antibodies enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
• Discuss the process of engineering therapeutic antibodies and how it has evolved over time.
  • Engineering therapeutic antibodies involves several steps, starting with the identification of a suitable antigen and producing monoclonal antibodies against it. Techniques like phage display and hybridoma technology have revolutionized this process. Over time, advancements have allowed scientists to create more effective antibodies through genetic modifications that improve their stability, affinity for the target antigen, and ability to recruit immune components. This evolution has expanded the applications of therapeutic antibodies in treating complex diseases beyond cancer.
• Evaluate the impact of therapeutic antibodies on the future of medicine, particularly regarding chronic diseases and personalized medicine.
  • The impact of therapeutic antibodies on the future of medicine is profound, especially in treating chronic diseases and advancing personalized medicine. Their ability to specifically target disease markers allows for tailored treatments based on individual patient profiles. As research continues to uncover new antigens associated with various diseases, therapeutic antibodies are expected to play a central role in developing precision therapies that improve patient outcomes while minimizing side effects. This shift towards personalized approaches could transform how chronic diseases are managed in clinical settings.

Related terms

Monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of an antibody that targets a specific antigen, produced by identical immune cells cloned from a unique parent cell.

Biologic drugs: Biologic drugs are medications made from living organisms or their cells, often including therapeutic antibodies, and used to treat various diseases.

Antigen: An antigen is any substance that triggers an immune response, typically a foreign substance such as a pathogen or a toxin.