Monoclonal Antibodies Flashcards
What are monoclonal antibodies?
Identical copies of antibodies that have been made in labs
They need to made in large numbers to work properly
How are they made?
A mouse is vaccinated to start the formation of antibodies, spleen cells that form antibodies are collected, these are fused with tumour cells (myeloma cells), this forms hybridoma cells, these are growing the labs and those that produce antibodies are separated and collected
What can monoclonal antibodies be used for?
Therapeutic treatment
Clinical detection of disease
Uses of monoclonal antibodies
To detect pregnancy
Treat specific cancers
Diagnose prostate cance
ELISA test
What is the technique used to treat cancerous cells?
Monoclonal antibody therapy
What antibody treats cancer? What types? How does it work?
Herception
Breast, ovarian and others
Blocks a growth signal which starve the cancer and marks the cells for destruction
How are monoclonal antibodies used in pregnancy testing?
HCG is a hormone released by the placenta into the urine, monoclonal antibodies bind with HCG, antibodies are tagged with a coloured marker, when stick is dipped into urine, HCG attaches to the coloured marker antibody. The HCG-antibody-coloured complex moves up the strip until it is trapped by another antibody causing the coloured line to appear
How are monoclonal antibodies used to diagnose prostate cance?
PSA is a protein that is produced as in high levels by men with prostrate cancer, the levels are detected in the blood. A monoclonal antibody interacts with PSA, measuring levels of the antibody allows you to estimate the levels of the protein present
How are monoclonal antibodies used in the ELISA test?
Elisa test detects and measures antibodies in your blood. This test can be used to determine if you have antibodies related to certain infectious diseases
Ethical issues
Side effects, allergic reactions, fatigue
Some deaths have been reported after monoclonal antibodies were used to treat multiple sclerosis
Expensive to produce
Lots of students take part in drug testing
March 2006 - 6 healthy volunteers suffered multiple organ failure after a new monoclonal antibody TGN1412 causes immune response that lead to multiple organ failure
