antibody therapy
Meaning of antibody therapy: Treatment that borrows the immune system's own targeting protein, manufactured in bulk and aimed at one chosen molecule.
Definition of antibody therapy
Antibody therapy is treatment with antibodies made outside the body and given as a drug. Each one is designed to lock onto a single chosen molecule, then block it, mark the cell carrying it for destruction, or deliver a payload to it. Antibody drugs are used in cancer, autoimmune disease, asthma, migraine, high cholesterol and infection.
How does an antibody work as a medicine?
An antibody is a Y-shaped protein. The two arm tips are shaped to grip one target and almost nothing else, which is where the precision comes from, and the stem is the part the rest of the immune system reads. Manufacturing starts from a single cell line, so every molecule in the vial is identical, which is what monoclonal means. Because these are proteins, digestion would destroy them, so they are injected or infused. They also linger, often for weeks, so doses are spaced far apart.
What are the different ways they act?
| Approach | What the antibody does |
|---|---|
| Blocking | Covers a receptor or mops up a messenger so a signal never arrives |
| Marking | Coats a cell so immune cells and complement proteins destroy it |
| Releasing a brake | Frees T cells that a tumor had switched off |
| Carrying a payload | Delivers chemotherapy or a radioactive atom directly to the target cell |
| Bridging | Holds a T cell and a tumor cell together so the T cell can act |
How does it differ from a vaccine?
A vaccine teaches the body to build its own antibodies, which takes weeks but lasts. Giving ready-made antibodies works the other way round, providing protection or effect immediately and fading as the protein is cleared. That borrowed approach is described under passive antibody therapy, and it is why antibody preparations are useful after an exposure has already happened.
What are the drawbacks?
Reactions during an infusion are common, ranging from flushing and chills to something more serious. Antibodies that suppress immune activity raise the risk of infection, and those that release immune brakes can let the immune system attack healthy organs. The body can also mount a response against the drug itself, producing antibodies that neutralize it over time.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Antibody therapy was added once testing confirmed the tumor carried the target protein.
Good to know
Antibody drugs are proteins, so they are injected or infused rather than swallowed, and the ending of the generic name signals the type, with the letters mab marking a monoclonal antibody.