Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies have become an active area of drug development for anticancer therapy and other non neoplastic diseases, because they are directed at specific targets and often have fewer adverse effects. They are created from B lymphocytes (from immunized mice or hamsters) fused with “immortal” B-lymphocyte tumor cells. The resulting hybrid cells can be individually cloned, and each clone will produce antibodies directed against a single antigen type. Recombinant technology has led to the creation of “humanized” antibodies that overcome the immunologic problems previously observed following administration of mouse (murine) antibodies.