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New Antibody Technology and the Emergence of Useful Cancer Therapy
New Antibody Technology and the Emergence of Useful Cancer Therapy Author:Richard Begent, Anne S. Hamblin Cancer therapy relies almost wholly on non-specific cytotoxic and radiation delivery. Whilst some tumours can be cured by this approach, most cannot. Escalations in dose may overcome resistance, but at the expense of systemic toxicity. Clearly, new treatment strategies are required which ideally would give icidal tumour doses locally without maj... more »or systemic toxicity. Treatment based upon the use of monoclonal antibodies has the appeal of selectivity, and in the two decades since the development of hybridoma technology, much interest and research has focused on the development of useful cancer treatments based on their use. However, a multitude of obstacles to effective therapy has been found when attempting to translate successes in cell structure and animal models to humans. Strategies to overcome these hurdles have been developed and have resulted in a radical rethink in many aspects of antibody-based therapy. This book, a report of the Tufton Charitable Trust Conference, held in October 1994, presents and discusses recent technological achievements which have already brought antibody-based therapy to the forefront of cancer treatment, and considers future directions.« less