Monoclonal antibodies

• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Antibodies produced outside of the body that are isolated and cloned.
• What can monoclonal antibodies be used for?

  Research, medical diagnosis, treating diseases and pregnancy tests.
• How are monoclonal antibodies used to treat diseases?

  There direct and indirect monoclonal antibody therapy.
• Describe direct monoclonal therapy.

  Monoclonal antibodies are produced that are specific to antigens on cancer cells for example. These antibodies are given to a patient and attach themselves to the receptors on their cancer cells. They attach to the surface of their cancer cells and block the chemical signals that stimulate their uncontrolled growth.
• Give one advantage direct monoclonal antibody therapy.

  Antibodies aren't toxic and are highly specific, they lead to fewer side effects than other forms of therapy.
• Describe indirect monoclonal antibody therapy.

  It involves attaching a radioactive or cytotoxic drug to the monoclonal antibody. When the antibody attaches to the cancer cells, it kills them.
• What is the advantage of indirect monoclonal antibody therapy?

  They can be used in smaller doses, as they're targeted on specific sites. This is cheaper and reduces side effects.
• How are monoclonal antibodies used in medial diagnosis in reference to men with prostate cancer.

  Men with prostate cancer often produce more of protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA). By using a monoclonal antibody that interacts with this antigen, it's possible to obtain a measure of the level of PSA in a sample of blood. ELISA test
• How does pregnancy tests work?

  The placenta produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and this is found in the urine. Monoclonal antibodies present on the test strip of a home preganancy testing kit are linked to coloured particles. If hCG is present in the urine it binds to these antibodies. The hCG-antibody-colour complex moves along the strip untul it is trapped by a different type of antibody creating a coloured line.
• What are the ethical issues with the use of monoclonal antibodies?

  Use of mice- giving mice cancer. Animal rights

  There have been some deaths associated with their use in treatment of MS.

  March 2006, 6 healthy volunteers took part in the trial of a new monoclonal antibody, within minutes they suffered multiple organ failures (they all survived though)