Monoclonal antibodies: the possibilities for cancer therapy.

Previous studies and current efforts to use monoclonal antibodies in human cancer therapy are reviewed. These include antibody-dependent immune reactions in vivo, conjugation of cytotoxic agents to monoclonal antibodies, and monoclonal antibody-mediated tumor cell elimination from bone marrow in vitro for use in autologous bone marrow transplantation. Our studies describe the use of magnetic immunocolloids for the removal of leukemic cells from human bone marrow. Future possibilities for the therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies are also discussed.