Monoclonal antibodies used in immunotherapy are produced artificially from a cell clone therefore consist of a single type of immunoglobulin. They are targeted towards specific antigens and bind to the antigens to form a complex. These complexes can be recognized and destroyed by phagocytes or used for other diagnostic purposes.
Natural antibodies are proteins made by the B-lymphocytes in response to antigens. Each B-cell makes only one type of antibody. For therapeutic purposes a significant amount of a particular antibody is needed. These are obtained from a culture that gives a one type of antibody, which are called monoclonal antibodies.
CD33 is an antigen present on granulocyte and macrophage precursors in the bone marrow. It differentiates myelogenous leukemia cells from lymphoid or erythroid leukemias.
CD33 monoclonal antibodies are administered with other chemotherapy agents, such as cytosine arabinoside and idarubicin, to enhance the cytotoxic effects on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.
