One such new type of treatment method which is often heard these days is the monoclonal antibody therapy. This method involves the use of monoclonal antibodies to specifically target cancer cells. The main objective of the monoclonal antibody therapy method is to actually stimulate the patient’s immune system to attack the tumor cells and also prevent tumor growth by blocking cell receptors.
Monoclonal antibody therapy is a relatively new innovation when it comes to treatment of cancer. FDA approved this method of treatment in 1997. There are several monoclonal antibody drugs that are available for treatment certain types of cancer in the market.
Technically speaking a monoclonal antibody is a molecule which can be targeted to attach to certain substances on cancerous cells. These molecules are produced in a laboratory. Usually the body by itself produces antibodies as part of its immune system. These laboratory produced monoclonal antibodies are used to target specific defects in cancer cells.
The entire working mechanism of monoclonal antibody therapy is quite complex. The body’s natural immune system which attacks foreign invaders in the body sometimes does not recognize cancer cells as invaders or enemies. A monoclonal antibody since it is attached to certain parts of the cancer cells makes it that much easier for it to be identified by the immune system. Monoclonal antibody therapy also blocks the growth of cancer cells in the sense that it prevents them from making extra copies. In certain types of monoclonal antibody therapy, physicians are known to combine certain radioactive particles with the monoclonal antibody, which then delivers radiation directly to the cancer cells. This is a good way of treating cancer cells without harming the surrounding healthy cells. Powerful anti-cancer drugs can also be attached to monoclonal antibodies sometimes. These drugs reach inside target cells this way and lower the chances of harming other neighboring cells.
Monoclonal antibody therapy is being widely used all over the world now for the treatment of breast as well as other types of cancer. Although this is the case, a lot of research still needs to be done and is being done on this form of treating cancer. Monoclonal antibody therapy is also known to cause certain side effects. Monoclonal antibody drugs are known to cause common side effects including itching, chills, fatigue, fever, pains and muscle aches to mention only some. Serious side effects may include symptoms such as infusion reactions, heart problems, dangerously low levels of blood cell counts and bleeding.
One can get a host of valuable information on monoclonal antibody therapy by visiting online resources. You can also find out the list of FDA approved monoclonal antibody drugs that are available in the market by hopping online.