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Antibody-Based Targeted Interventions for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Cancers
Suresh Madheswaran1, Neelakshi Mungra1, Fleury A N Biteghe2
1Medical Biotechnology & Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Background:
Cutaneous malignancies most commonly arise from skin epidermal cells. These cancers may rapidly progress from benign to a metastatic phase. Surgical resection represents the gold standard therapeutic treatment of non-metastatic skin cancer while chemo- and/or radiotherapy are often used against metastatic tumors. However, these therapeutic treatments are limited by the development of resistance and toxic side effects, resulting from the passive accumulation of cytotoxic drugs within healthy cells.
Objective:
This review aims to elucidate how the use of monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) targeting specific Tumor Associated Antigens (TAAs) is paving the way to improved treatment. These mAbs are used as therapeutic or diagnostic carriers that can specifically deliver cytotoxic molecules, fluorophores or radiolabels to cancer cells that overexpress specific target antigens.
Results:
mAbs raised against TAAs are widely in use for e.g. differential diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of skin cancers. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) particularly show remarkable potential. The safest ADCs reported to date use non-toxic photo-activatable Photosensitizers (PSs), allowing targeted Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) resulting in targeted delivery of PS into cancer cells and selective killing after light activation without harming the normal cell population. The use of near-infrared-emitting PSs enables both diagnostic and therapeutic applications upon light activation at the specific wavelengths.
Conclusion:
Antibody-based approaches are presenting an array of opportunities to complement and improve current methods employed for skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Insights
Monoclonal antibodies targeting tumor antigens offer improved skin cancer treatment by delivering therapies directly to cancer cells. Antibody-Drug Conjugates with photosensitizers enable targeted photodynamic therapy, enhancing efficacy and reducing side effects.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cutaneous malignancies originate from skin epidermal cells and can progress to metastatic stages.
- Current treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy face limitations due to drug resistance and toxicity.
- Passive drug accumulation in healthy cells contributes to the side effects of conventional therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advancements in using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for improved skin cancer treatment.
- To explore how mAbs targeting Tumor Associated Antigens (TAAs) enhance therapeutic delivery.
- To highlight antibody-based strategies for diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on monoclonal antibody applications in oncology.
- Analysis of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) utilizing photosensitizers for targeted therapy.
- Examination of targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) mechanisms and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Monoclonal antibodies are effective in the differential diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of skin cancers.
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) show significant potential, especially those using non-toxic photosensitizers.
- Targeted photodynamic therapy with near-infrared-emitting photosensitizers allows for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications with high specificity.
Conclusions:
- Antibody-based approaches provide novel opportunities to enhance current skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Targeted delivery systems improve therapeutic efficacy and minimize damage to healthy tissues.
- The development of advanced antibody-based therapies promises more effective and safer management of skin malignancies.
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