The Role Of Antibody Conjugation In Treatment
Antibody conjugation has been a major breakthrough as regards the treatment of different conditions. Most of the benefits have been seen in cancer treatment. In this process, an antibody is linked to a pharmacological agent to facilitate the delivery of the latter to a desired site of action. The complex molecule is termed an antibody drug complex (ADC) and thus form of treatment is one of the many forms of targeted therapy.
There are numerous advantages of conjugating drugs. The traditional chemotherapeutic techniques had very little ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal tissues and frequently resulted in great damage to the normal tissues. With the advantage of ADCs, this side effect is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The synergism between the monoclonal antibodies and the chemotherapeutic agents has been shown to significantly reduce hospital stay.
The science behind this process is quite complex but we will try and look at the main things that happen. The main components that are required are an anticancer drug that may be either be a cell toxin or a cytotoxin is joined to a monoclonal antibody which specifically targets specific tumour markers. Each tumour in the body secretes specific substances and it is these substances that are not produced by any other tumour types.
Once the complex gets into the blood, there is interaction between the monoclonal antibodies and the proteins on the cancer cells which act as antigens. A linkage is formed between the antibodies and the antigens. A signal is transmitted to the cell nucleus and the complex is subsequently absorbed into the cell. The drug is then released and acts on the cell to cause destruction.
It is important that the link between the two components is stable. There are many types of links that exist including peptides, disulfides and thioethers. The peptides and the disulfides are cleavable while the thioethers are non-cleavable. Both types have been shown to be safe through clinical trials. The ADCs that are available commercially may either fall in either category. Those that have cleavable links are usually combined with some type of an enzyme.
Apart from drugs, this process has been employed in numerous other ways. For example, it may involve the coupling of antibodies to radionuclide agents. This is a form of radiotherapy that is highly targeted. It is also known as radioimmunotherapy. The main advantage of radioimmunotherapy over conventional radiotherapy is that delivery of radiation is more precise and associated with very few side effects. It can also be used in treating metastatic tumours with very good results.
There are several advantages attributable to the use of this technique. For instance, the tumours have to be tested for identification of tumour markers. This undertaking is not only expensive but requires technical knowhow that may not be always readily available. The other advantage is that the dose of drug that eventually reaches the targeted site may not be lethal enough due to dilution in the blood stream.
Antibody conjugation is a process that has gone a long way into changing the way in which therapies are delivered. There have been huge efforts aimed at reducing the associated disadvantages and enhancing the potency of the drugs at the site of action. It is now being incorporated into preventive medicine.
There are numerous advantages of conjugating drugs. The traditional chemotherapeutic techniques had very little ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal tissues and frequently resulted in great damage to the normal tissues. With the advantage of ADCs, this side effect is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The synergism between the monoclonal antibodies and the chemotherapeutic agents has been shown to significantly reduce hospital stay.
The science behind this process is quite complex but we will try and look at the main things that happen. The main components that are required are an anticancer drug that may be either be a cell toxin or a cytotoxin is joined to a monoclonal antibody which specifically targets specific tumour markers. Each tumour in the body secretes specific substances and it is these substances that are not produced by any other tumour types.
Once the complex gets into the blood, there is interaction between the monoclonal antibodies and the proteins on the cancer cells which act as antigens. A linkage is formed between the antibodies and the antigens. A signal is transmitted to the cell nucleus and the complex is subsequently absorbed into the cell. The drug is then released and acts on the cell to cause destruction.
It is important that the link between the two components is stable. There are many types of links that exist including peptides, disulfides and thioethers. The peptides and the disulfides are cleavable while the thioethers are non-cleavable. Both types have been shown to be safe through clinical trials. The ADCs that are available commercially may either fall in either category. Those that have cleavable links are usually combined with some type of an enzyme.
Apart from drugs, this process has been employed in numerous other ways. For example, it may involve the coupling of antibodies to radionuclide agents. This is a form of radiotherapy that is highly targeted. It is also known as radioimmunotherapy. The main advantage of radioimmunotherapy over conventional radiotherapy is that delivery of radiation is more precise and associated with very few side effects. It can also be used in treating metastatic tumours with very good results.
There are several advantages attributable to the use of this technique. For instance, the tumours have to be tested for identification of tumour markers. This undertaking is not only expensive but requires technical knowhow that may not be always readily available. The other advantage is that the dose of drug that eventually reaches the targeted site may not be lethal enough due to dilution in the blood stream.
Antibody conjugation is a process that has gone a long way into changing the way in which therapies are delivered. There have been huge efforts aimed at reducing the associated disadvantages and enhancing the potency of the drugs at the site of action. It is now being incorporated into preventive medicine.
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Title: The Role Of Antibody Conjugation In Treatment
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