Diagnosis and therapy with labeled antibodies

Both polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies can be conjugated to enzymes or fluorescent molecules, or be synthesized with radioactive amino acid residues. The specificity of such labeled antibodies allows the localization of cell or tissue components, including transplantation antigens, and - when the conjugate is a drug or toxin - the treatment of tumors. Applications of labeled antibodies and systems for the production of antibodies, such as virus-transformed B-cell lines, were discussed at a recent conference.