This survey is an overview of the applications of murine, humanized and recombinant monoclonal antibodies for in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been applied to the diagnosis and therapy of an array of human diseases. The initial failures of early clinical trials have been overcome through the production of a new generation of mAb which features reduced immunogenicity and improved targeting abilities. The early models of mAb therapy were focused on enhancing the cytolytic mechanisms against the tumor cells. More recently, successful mAb-based therapies were targeted to molecules involved in the regulation of growth of cancer cells. This has highlighted the relevance of understanding receptor-mediated signaling events, and may provide new opportunities for anti-tumor antibody targeting. Despite all the difficulties, clinical data is outlining an increasingly significant role for antibody-mediated cancer therapy as a versatile and powerful instrument in cancer treatment. One reasonable expectation is that treatment at an earlier stage in the disease process or in minimal residual disease may be more advantageous.