Improving monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy

Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have emerged as a promising class of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of many human diseases, including cancer. Historically, an inability to target monoclonal antibodies to solid tumors in sufficient quantities and with high enough specificity has hampered the effectiveness of antibodies as therapeutics. This review focuses on recent efforts in the field of antibody‐engineering directed at improving both the targeting of antibody‐based therapeutics as well as enhancing the efficacy of those therapeutics once they have been targeted to tumor. Drug Dev. Res. 61:172–187, 2004.