What are Unconjugated Antibodies?
Unconjugated antibodies, also known as naked antibodies, are
monoclonal antibodies that do not have any drug, toxin, or radioactive substance attached to them. They function by targeting specific antigens present on the surface of cancer cells, leading to the destruction of these cells through various immune mechanisms.
Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC): Here, the antibodies bind to cancer cell antigens, marking them for destruction by immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells.
Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity (CDC): Antibody binding triggers a cascade of biochemical events that result in the formation of membrane attack complexes, which puncture the cancer cell membrane, leading to cell death.
Direct Apoptosis: Some antibodies can directly induce cancer cell death by blocking essential survival pathways or triggering signaling cascades that lead to apoptosis.
Rituximab (Rituxan): Used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It targets the CD20 antigen on B-cells.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin): Targets the HER2 receptor and is used in HER2-positive breast cancer and gastric cancer.
Cetuximab (Erbitux): Targets the EGFR receptor and is used in the treatment of colorectal cancer and head and neck cancers.
Specificity: They can precisely target cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells.
Versatility: They can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.
Immune System Activation: They not only target cancer cells directly but also engage the immune system to enhance the anti-cancer response.
Resistance: Cancer cells can develop resistance to these antibodies, limiting their long-term effectiveness.
Side Effects: While generally safer than chemotherapy, they can still cause side effects such as infusion reactions, fever, and fatigue.
Cost: These treatments can be expensive, posing a financial burden on patients and healthcare systems.
Bispecific Antibodies: These are engineered to target two different antigens simultaneously, potentially offering greater efficacy.
Combination Therapies: Combining unconjugated antibodies with other treatments like checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, and small molecule inhibitors to overcome resistance and improve outcomes.
Personalized Medicine: Advances in genomics and biomarker discovery are enabling more personalized approaches, tailoring antibody treatments to the unique characteristics of an individual’s cancer.
