In modern medicine and pharmacology, some discoveries occur regularly. Everything is done to simplify the treatment of certain diseases. One of the most promising discoveries is monoclonal antibodies. Most antibodies produced by the body are polyclonal. Simply put, they are designed to fight with different antigens, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of treatment. Monoclonal antibodies act purposefully, allowing to receive the greatest possible positive result.
Principle of treatment with monoclonal antibodies
To date, monoclonal antibodies are used for targeted or so-called targeted therapy. As the tests showed, this method shows the best results of treatment.
Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that originate from a single cellular clone. That is, they all have only one predecessor cell. Monoclonal antibodies are used for:
- colitis ;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis;
- multiple sclerosis .
They help to fight even the most complex forms of oncology.
The principle of action of monoclonal antibodies is quite simple: they recognize certain antigens and attach to them. Thanks to this, the immune system quickly notices the problem and begins to fight it. In fact, monoclonal antibodies allow the body to get rid of antigens independently. Another great advantage of MCA is that they only affect pathologically altered cells without causing harm to the healthy.
Monoclonal antibodies in oncology
For many patients with oncology, drugs that include monoclonal antibodies have become the only hope for a return to normal. A large part of patients with large malignant tumors and disappointing forecasts after the course of treatment felt a noticeable relief.
Advantages of ICA are obvious:
- Attaching to cancer cells, monoclonal antibodies not only make them more visible, but also weaken. And with vulnerable pathologically altered cells, the body is much easier to fight.
- The monoclonal antibodies that have found their purpose contribute to blocking the receptors of tumor growth. Thanks to this treatment of oncology is greatly simplified.
- Antibodies are obtained in the laboratory, where they are specifically combined with a small amount of radioactive particles. Passing these particles through the body, the MCA delivers them exactly to the tumor, where they act.
Treatment of cancer with monoclonal antibodies can be compared with radiotherapy. But unlike the latter, the ICA acts milder. Their purposefulness makes it possible to use a much smaller number of radioactive particles.
Drugs containing monoclonal antibodies
Despite the fact that the ICA was invented not so long ago, the range of preparations containing them already looks pretty impressive. New medicines appear regularly.
The most popular monoclonal antibodies that are used today for psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis look like this:
- Alemtuzumab;
- Alefacept;
- Daclusimab;
- Okrelizumab;
- Ustenkinumab;
- Basiliximab;
- Ofatumumab;
- Epratuzumab;
- Clenoliximab;
- Bevacizumab;
- Trastuzumab;
- Adalimumab;
- Enbrel;
- Infliximab and others.
Of course, monoclonal antibodies, like most other drugs, can have side effects. Most often, patients after using ICA complain of the manifestation of allergic reactions: itching, rash. In rare cases, treatment is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or bowel disorder.