Monoclonal antibody (redirected from Monoclonal antibodies)

monoclonal antibody

n.

Any of a class of highly specific antibodies produced by the clones of a single hybrid cell formed in the laboratory by the fusion of a B cell with a tumor cell and widely used in medical and biological research.

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Monoclonal antibody

A protein substance which is produced in the laboratory by a single population of cells. They are being tested as a possible form of cancer treatment.

Mentioned in: Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Neuroblastoma

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monoclonal antibody MAb, MoAb Diagnostics MAbs are used in diagnostics by radioactively-labelling MAbs to target malignant cells, detect metastases, and screen body fluids for microorganisms or measure levels of circulating hormones. MAbs are used in pathology to differentiate tumor subtypes with batteries of MAbs against intermediate filaments or membrane antigens. See Hybridoma Immunology A highly specific antibody formed by a clone of B lymphocytes, either naturally–eg, in cold hemagglutinin disease, plasma cell dyscrasia, or produced synthetically by fusing an immortal cell–mouse myeloma to a cell producing an antibody against a desired antigen. See Monoclonal immunoglobulin Oncology MAbs are viewed as a therapy for CA, as they directly inhibit the growth of certain tumors, can be chemically bound to toxins that are lethal to malignant cells, stimulate the complement system–a nonspecific arm of the immune system, which may destroy malignant cells, can be used to purge the BM of malignant cells, form the basis for CA vaccines, and for drug delivery systems Adverse effects Allergic reactions, fevers, chills, hypotension, liver and kidney problems. See Biological response modifier, Clone bank, HAMA. Cf Humanized antibody.