Monoclonal antibodies and cancer treatment

Module description

There are a wide range of treatments used in the fight against cancer. In sequence 1, module 1 students identified immunotherapy as the fourth pillar of treatment alongside surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

This module provides a brief overview of how scientists use monoclonal antibody therapy as a form of immunotherapy. They learn that monoclonal antibodies are developed within the laboratory and are administered to patients in the form of medicine. These monoclonal antibodies seek out and interact with cancer cells in order to initiate a range of immune responses. Firstly, monoclonal antibodies can be created to seek out and attach to tumour cells. These antibodies flag the ‘hidden’ tumour cell for destruction by a patient’s immune system. Secondly, monoclonal antibodies can also be developed as checkpoint inhibitors.

When T cells initiate an attack, the immune system increases a series of additional molecules to prevent the attack from damaging normal tissues in the body. These molecules are known as immune checkpoints. Cancer cells often utilize immune checkpoint molecules to suppress and evade an immune system attack. T cells, deceived by these normal-looking proteins, will not attack the cancer cells. Antibodies as checkpoint inhibitors block the immune checkpoint connections, resulting in the T cells attacking cancer cells.

The module builds on students prior understanding of the role and function of antibodies in the adaptive immune responses outlined in sequence 1, module 3.