Antibody therapy uses the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer or tumors. They are in use against many tumors, but for brain tumors the blood-brain barrier is of special concern, as it prevents antibodies from entering the brain. [1]

figure: Antibody binds to a protein on the surface of a tumor cell. [2]

Basic principle

Antibodies can lead to the death of a tumor target in a variety of ways.

The antibodies bind to special proteins and structures of the tumor cells. Thereby the monoclonal antibodies stimulate mechanisms of the patient’s immune system to fight the tumor cells. Additionally, antibodies themselves can damage tumor cells and directly block activity of a target molecule simply by binding to it.

Antibodies can be injected intravenously via infusion or subcutaneously into the hypoderm of the abdomen. The antibodies spread into the whole body via the lymphatic and blood circulation. [1] [2]

Side effects

The side effects of an antibody therapy are much less severe than those of common treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy). The most common side effects are similar to the symptoms of flu, such as fever and shivering. This is one of the reasons why antibody therapy is so promising. [2]

Bibliography

1) Lampson L.A. (2011) Monoclonal antibodies in neuro-oncology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3092616/

2) Antikörper und Chemotherapie, https://www.leben-mit-lymphom.de/fl/behandlung/antikoerper-und-chemotherapie/ (access 29/05/17)