Monoclonal antibodies, also known as MoAbs or MABs, are specially engineered versions of the body’s own antibodies that aim for novel molecular targets. Each monoclonal antibody recognizes a different protein, or antigen, and in general can be used alone, in combination with chemotherapy, or as a carrier of substances such as toxins or radiation. After binding to the targeted site, the therapeutic antibody can block the growth of the tumor and/or recruit the body's immune system to attack the target. Some monoclonal antibodies can also sensitize a cancer cell to chemotherapy.

Although MoAbs have been available for more than 30 years, during the last few years, we have witnessed the rapid development of several monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies now represent an exciting potential class of drugs that may be effective in treating myeloma.

Led by Leif Bergsagel, MD, Chair of the MMRC Validation Core and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., the MMRC, in collaboration with Genentech, has initiated a pre-clinical validation project to identify antigens expressed on myeloma cells. These antigens may represent promising therapeutic targets for monoclonal antibodies.

As part of this project, the MMRC will define the expression patterns of several monoclonal antibodies supplied by Genentech on myeloma cells found in fresh patient tissue samples and myeloma cell lines to detect potential therapeutic targets for the disease. Researchers will then test the compounds’ efficacy in vivo using myeloma cell lines. These studies will serve as a preliminary screen to identify promising monoclonal antibodies that can be further characterized in future studies.