Monoclonal antibodies in drug targeting.

The objective of drug targeting is to deliver drugs to a specific site of action through a carrier system. In cancer chemotherapy, cytotoxic drugs kill cancerous cells but also damage normal cells. Monoclonal antibodies generated against specific antigens, when conjugated to cytotoxic drugs, can selectively deliver drugs to cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal cells. Of all the carrier systems available, monoclonal antibodies are gaining importance because of their high specificity. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive account of the use of monoclonal antibodies in drug targeting, highlighting their scope and limitations.