New developments in monoclonal antibodies for cancer detection and therapy.

Monoclonal antibodies have provided clinicians with an intriguing, target-specific approach to cancer management. Used alone or conjugated with drugs, toxins, or radionuclides, monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be useful in the detection and/or treatment of several cancers. Recent advances, such as the development of "humanized" antibodies, promise to increase their effectiveness even more. This article summarizes the status of the in vivo use of monoclonal antibodies for cancer detection and therapy.