Monoclonal antibodies in childhood cancer.

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Childhood cancer is unusual, it occurs in different ages, ethnicities and economic status, its treatment in most of them has a high toxicity so it is necessary to analyze monoclonal antibodies as an alternative therapy. They have been studied since 1974 by Jerne, Köhler and Milstein, at present, effective results have been described for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases, as well as for cancer. The mechanism of action of mAbs to exert their function in cancer cells is variable, being the most important one the inhibition of checkpoints.

Objective: Learn about the efficiency and use of monoclonal antibodies in childhood cancer. 

Methodology: The literature review considered electronic media such as websites, scientific articles, books of articles, trials and protocols commonly used in pediatric oncology since 2010. The terms used as descriptors were "monoclonal antibodies", "immunotherapy", "lymphoma", "leukemia" and "rituximab".

Conclusion: monoclonal antibodies have been used as a type of alternative therapy mainly in hematological neoplasia, being their main use in pediatrics in lymphomas, leukemia, and neuroblastoma, however, they are in phase I and II clinical trials. In Ecuador, this type of therapy is mainly used in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with positive CD20 marker treated with rituximab, which is the most studied monoclonal antibody at present, based mainly on international protocols; however, there is no published literature or studies carried out in the country.