Medically reviewed by Prof. Shimon Slavin, MD. Updated: June 2026
Monoclonal antibodies are one of the most widely used forms of cancer immunotherapy. They are designed to recognise specific targets on cancer cells and help the immune system destroy them. Monoclonal antibody treatment is now used in many types of cancer, either alone or as part of a personalised immunotherapy programme.
How Do Monoclonal Antibodies Work in Cancer?
Monoclonal antibodies are proteins created in a laboratory. Each one recognises a single specific molecule on the surface of cancer cells and binds to it. Once attached, the antibody marks the cancer cell for destruction by the immune system.
One of the primary mechanisms is called ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). After the antibody attaches to a cancer cell, immune killer cells recognise this signal and destroy the marked cell. In this way, monoclonal antibodies act as a “label” that directs the immune system to where it needs to strike.
Monoclonal antibodies are often considered a form of targeted cancer therapy because they act on specific molecular targets and do not affect healthy tissue indiscriminately.
Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer: How They Are Used
Monoclonal antibodies for cancer are designed to recognise specific molecules expressed on tumour cells. Different monoclonal antibodies target different cancer-associated antigens depending on the tumour type and its molecular characteristics. Monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment are selected based on the molecular characteristics of the tumour and the presence of targetable antigens identified through tumour molecular profiling using a targeted panel of tumour-associated markers. It is important to note that this antigen profile may change at progression or relapse, and re-testing may be considered at that stage.
Monoclonal antibodies are also used as immune checkpoint inhibitors, blocking the suppressive signals that cancer cells use to switch off the immune response, or as anti-angiogenic agents that interfere with the formation of blood vessels supplying the tumour.
Monoclonal Antibody Immunotherapy at Biotherapy International
Monoclonal antibody immunotherapy is one of the personalised cancer immunotherapy approaches offered at Biotherapy International.
Monoclonal antibody treatment is incorporated into personalised therapy programmes developed under the scientific guidance of Professor Slavin. Relevant targets on tumour cells are identified through molecular profiling using a panel of tumour-associated markers, as part of the individual case assessment.
Monoclonal antibodies play a central role in ATACK (Allogeneic Targeted Activated Cancer Killer cells), the personalised cellular therapy method developed by Professor Slavin. ATACK uses donor immune cells that are intentionally selected as mismatched with the patient. This means they are not subject to the same immune tolerance that allows the tumour to evade the patient’s own immune system. Monoclonal antibodies direct these donor cells toward specific targets on the surface of cancer cells, increasing the precision of the immune response against tumour cells.
Who May Benefit from Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
Monoclonal antibody treatment, as part of a combined immunotherapy protocol, may be considered for patients with advanced or recurrent cancer where standard therapies have not achieved sufficient disease control. Each case is assessed individually. An individualised immunotherapy protocol may be considered for patients whose tumour profiling has confirmed expression of one or more targetable antigens.
Send Your Medical Records for Review >>
If you would like to find out whether monoclonal antibody treatment may be relevant in your case, you are welcome to send your medical records for an individual review by our medical team.
FAQ
