Overview of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies initially offered the promise of a cure for cancer as "magic bullets" but this hope was quickly diminished as the complexities of the host-tumor relationship were realized. We have acquired a tremendous amount of practical experience since the first cancer patient was treated with a MAb nearly 10 years ago. This experience, combined with recent advances in recombinant DNA technology, has endowed us with a rich variety of opportunities to exploit in the diagnosis and treatment of malignancies. If recent preclinical research studies are clinically applicable and the antitumor responses seen in initial clinical trials can be optimized and confirmed, the next decade will likely be host to remarkable advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer with MAbs.