How do monoclonal antibodies function in cancer treatment?

How do monoclonal antibodies function in cancer treatment?

• A. They increase blood flow to tumors
• B. They target specific antigens on cancer cells
• C. They stimulate production of white blood cells
• D. They act as radiation enhancers

Answer: (B)

Monoclonal antibodies play a critical role in cancer treatment by targeting specific antigens on cancer cells. These antibodies are designed to bind to particular proteins or markers that are often overexpressed or uniquely expressed on the surface of cancer cells. Once bound, they can exert their therapeutic effects in several ways. For instance, they can flag the cancer cells for destruction by the immune system, acting as a marker that prompts immune cells to recognize and attack. They may also block pathways that allow cancer cells to grow and divide or deliver cytotoxic agents directly to the cancer cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This targeted approach is instrumental in the development of personalized cancer therapies, allowing for treatments that are more effective and have potentially fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. The specificity of monoclonal antibodies towards cancer-associated antigens provides a significant advantage in both effectiveness and safety in cancer treatment. In contrast, increasing blood flow to tumors, stimulating white blood cell production, or acting as radiation enhancers does not encapsulate the main mechanism by which monoclonal antibodies function in treating cancer. While these actions have their own significance in the context of cancer therapies, they do not define the primary role and operational mechanism of monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies play a critical role in cancer treatment by targeting specific antigens on cancer cells. These antibodies are designed to bind to particular proteins or markers that are often overexpressed or uniquely expressed on the surface of cancer cells. Once bound, they can exert their therapeutic effects in several ways.

For instance, they can flag the cancer cells for destruction by the immune system, acting as a marker that prompts immune cells to recognize and attack. They may also block pathways that allow cancer cells to grow and divide or deliver cytotoxic agents directly to the cancer cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

This targeted approach is instrumental in the development of personalized cancer therapies, allowing for treatments that are more effective and have potentially fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. The specificity of monoclonal antibodies towards cancer-associated antigens provides a significant advantage in both effectiveness and safety in cancer treatment.

In contrast, increasing blood flow to tumors, stimulating white blood cell production, or acting as radiation enhancers does not encapsulate the main mechanism by which monoclonal antibodies function in treating cancer. While these actions have their own significance in the context of cancer therapies, they do not define the primary role and operational mechanism of monoclonal antibodies.