Monoclonal antibodies: their importance to surgeons

Journal of Investigative Surgery : the Official Journal of the Academy of Surgical Research
A Estabrook, R Mesa-Tejada

Abstract

A tremendous technological advance occurred in 1975 when a method was developed to fuse two cells producing a "hybridoma" which secretes a single clone of antibody, having one immunoglobulin (Ig) class, one structure, one affinity, and one specificity for an antigenic determinant. Because monoclonal antibodies are more precise reagents than conventional antisera they open new doors to diagnosis and therapy of disease, and they are useful tools in research. The pathologist uses monoclonals in immunocytochemistry to determine tumor type; the surgeon uses monoclonals for immunosuppression in renal transplantation; the immunologist uses monoclonals to decipher cellular and humoral interactions that could not be appreciated with polyclonal reagents. This review outlines the background of monoclonal antibodies and some of their clinically important uses, both in vitro and in vivo. We also project into the future and describe chimeric antibodies and their possible uses.

References

Nov 1, 1988·American Journal of Surgery·E W MartinJ G Bell
Feb 1, 1985·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A N HoughtonL J Old
Sep 20, 1985·Science·S L Morrison
Oct 13, 1983·The New England Journal of Medicine·R C BastR C Knapp
Dec 1, 1983·Journal of Cutaneous Pathology·A Estabrook, J A Patterson
Apr 1, 1980·Cell·E L Reinherz, S F Schlossman

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