Monoclonal antibodies as effective therapeutic agents for solid tumors

Cancer Sci. 2004 Aug;95(8):621-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2004.tb03319.x.

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against growth factors or their receptors have been revealed to be effective therapeutic agents for solid tumors. Trastuzumab (humanized anti-HER2 mAb) is the first mAb approved for the treatment of a solid tumor, metastatic breast cancer. Large-scale phase III clinical trials are now ongoing to further evaluate the additive effects on chemotherapy and the efficacy as a maintenance monotherapy. Another anti-HER2 mAb CH401 that we developed also seems to have good potential. This chimeric mAb completely suppressed the growth of established human tumor xenografts in SCID mice after a single injection. Furthermore, CH401 characteristically showed much stronger induction of apoptosis in HER2-overexpressing gastric cancer cells compared to trastuzumab. Additional targets now being intensively evaluated are epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Both cetuximab (chimeric anti-EGFR mAb) and bevacizumab (humanized anti-VEGF mAb) have recently been shown to be of clinical value for metastatic colorectal cancer. Anti-idiotype mAbs are unique as active immunotherapeutic agents, and survival benefits have been observed in clinical trials for solid tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • ErbB Receptors / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • ErbB Receptors