Human monoclonal antibodies: prospects for the therapy of cancer

Human monoclonal antibodies have been produced in a number of laboratories to a number of cell surface and cytoplasmic antigens. Although currently more difficult to produce than murine monoclonal antibodies, human monoclonal antibodies provide several potential advantages over conventional murine monoclonal antibodies in the therapy of human cancer. We review the human monoclonal antibodies produced to human tumors and describe our clinical experience with the use of human monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of recurrent cutaneous melanoma.