Theranostic Applications of Antibody-Based Systems in Human Diseases

Since antibodies are one of the most successful classes of biopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment, it is very important to discuss the functionality and biological activity of endogenous antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. Antibodies act on tumor cells in diverse ways, including engaging in antibody-dependent effector mechanisms, internalizing to deliver toxins, and displaying direct effects on cells. In this review, we outline three kinds of antibody-based therapeutic systems, namely Antibody-based Drug Conjugates (Ab-DCs), Antibody-based Recruiting Small Molecules (Ab-RSMs) and Carbohydrate Epitopes Recruiting Natural Antibodies (CERNA) for human disease treatment and imaging. These antibody-based therapeutic systems are able to strengthen the binding ability of antibodies with disease-relevant cells or viruses, leading to their immuno-mediated therapeutic responses and clearance. Research in these fields shows exciting potential at the junction of organic chemistry and immune-biology. Since the applications of antibodies are of great importance, it is necessary to functionalize antibodies or develop other antibody-based synthetic strategies to modulate the human immune system, and ultimately achieve the treatment of diseases.