Update on monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer

The use of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer has generated increasing interest in recent years as more antibodies become available and demonstrate clinical utility. This article reviews the available evidence for the use of three monoclonal antibodies: one - ipilimumab - pending approval in Australia, and two - panitumubab and cetuximab - that has been recently approved. Ipilimubab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 to increase the activation of T cells, while panitumumab and cetuximab both target the epidermal growth factor. The clinical effectiveness of these treatments has been demonstrated, and careful biological studies have shown factors that predict for both response and resistance. This review outlines some of these factors.