Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a laboratory that mimic the natural antibodies produced by your immune system to fight off illness. They bind to targets in your body, such as cancer cells, viruses or other foreign substances. They can be used to diagnose and treat many different conditions.
Antibody receptors, or antibodies, are proteins that circulate through your body looking for targets called antigens on the surface of unhealthy cells. Like natural antibodies, monoclonal antibodies attach to antigens and stimulate your immune system to attack them or stop cells from dividing.
Some monoclonal antibodies are considered a type of targeted therapy since they target specific proteins on certain cancer cells. Other monoclonal antibodies are seen as immunotherapy, as they help your immune system work better.
Monoclonal antibodies treat various conditions, including cancer, autoimmune conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus), infections (such as COVID-19), neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis), and eye conditions (like macular degeneration). They're also being studied for Alzheimer's and diabetes, offering targeted treatment options for a variety of conditions.
Monoclonal antibodies work in different ways to identify and attack unhealthy cells or foreign substances in your body. Each monoclonal antibody recognizes one particular protein, which could be on the surface of a cancer cell or a cell that is part of your immune system.
Some antibodies bind to the proteins on abnormal cells, acting as markers and stimulating your immune system to attack these cells. This can help your immune system distinguish cancer cells from healthy cells. They can also carry drugs or radioactive particles directly to target cells.
Other antibodies work on the proteins that are naturally in your body. For example, they could stop proteins from blocking an immune response to cancer cells or support the regulation of LDL cholesterol.
Cancer cells can make large amounts of molecules called growth factor receptors. These sit on the surface of cells and send signals to make them divide. Monoclonal antibodies can block these receptors or their signals, stopping the cells from multiplying. Other drugs can prevent tumors from developing the blood vessels they need to grow larger.
Monoclonal antibodies can also target viruses in several ways. For example, they can bind to a virus and stop it from entering a healthy cell.
Monoclonal antibody treatments generally cause fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy, as they focus on targeting abnormal cells while leaving healthy cells mostly unharmed. However, some side effects can still occur and may vary from person to person.
Your healthcare team will help monitor and manage any side effects during your treatment.
