What are the advantages of monoclonal versus polyclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents in cancer?
Monoclonal antibodies (identical antibodies of a single origin) are much more specific in their target. They are administered to a patient whose cancer has been identified and its cellular markers are known. The antibodies bind those cancer-specific markers and signal the immune system to eradicate the cell. Polyclonal antibodies are used in instances where the physician isn’t entirely sure of the “strain” of cancer, but knows its origination (ie kidney, pancreas, etc.) Polyclonal antibodies are several different antibodies engineered using the most common cancer cell markers, and are given to patients in the hopes that one will work. The efficacy between the two is quite similar, but monoclonal is preferred.
