hematology and oncology
Host Response to Tumors
Humoral Immunity
In contrast to T-cell cytotoxic immunity, humoral antibodies do not appear to confer significant protection against tumor growth. Most antibodies cannot recognize TAAs. Regardless, humoral antibodies that react with tumor cells in vitro have been detected in the sera of patients with various tumors, including Breast Cancer None Burkitt Lymphoma None Gastrointestinal tract cancers Lung Carcinoma None Melanoma None Neuroblastoma None Osteosarcoma (osteogenic sarcoma) None Cytotoxic antibodies are directed against surface antigens of tumor cells. These antibodies can exert anti-tumor effects through complement fixation or by serving as a flag for destruction of tumor cells by T cells (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). Another population of humoral antibodies, called enhancing antibodies (blocking antibodies), may actually favor rather than inhibit tumor growth. The mechanisms and relative importance of such immunologic enhancement are not well understood. Antibodies that deliver conjugated toxins to tumor cells to selectively target tumor cells are being tested. 