Drug Delivery and Therapy

Monoclonal antibodies specific to antigens on cancer cells can be used to treat cancer.

They bind to the chemicals on the patient's cancer cells that stimulate their uncontrolled growth so that they are unable to function.

Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody used to treat breast cancer.

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antigen: A protein or glycoprotein, usually on a cell surface, that is recognised as foreign by the immune system and triggers an immune response.
antibody: A Y-shaped protein, made of four polypeptide chains with variable regions complementary to a specific antigen, produced by B plasma cells.
monoclonal antibody: An antibody produced from a single clone of B cells, identical in structure and specific to one antigen.