An Overview of Monoclonal Antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a brief overview of the development of monoclonal antibodies in immunotherapy, including a review of the mechanism of action and types, and indications for use. DATA SOURCE: Peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, internet. CONCLUSION: Monoclonal antibodies offer alternative treatment to cancer patients who have failed or progressed on standard chemotherapy. Clinical research continues to explore new antigens to target in hopes of discovering the "magic bullet" to eliminate cancer altogether. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Collaboration with infection control should be considered for nurses administering monoclonal antibodies to ensure their safe handling. These agents should be verified before administration with the two-RN sign-off system. Nurses play a vital role in providing adequate patient education to ensure patient safety.

Cancer Immunotherapy: An Evidence-Based Overview and Implications for Practice.

BACKGROUND: Significant research progress has been made in immunotherapies since the mid-1990s, and this rapid evolution necessitates evidence-based education on immunotherapies, their pathophysiology, and their toxicities to provide safe, effective care.
. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to provide an evidence-based overview, with implications for practice, of checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, oncolytic viral therapies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies.
. METHODS: Each immunotherapy category is presented according to the pathophysiology of its immune modulation, the classes of agents within each category, evidence-based toxicities associated with each class, and implications for practice.
. FINDINGS: Immunotherapies vary in their pathophysiology and offer potential to be highly effective for the management of a wide array of cancer types. Understanding the unique pathophysiology and toxicities is necessary to assess, manage, and provide safe, effective patient-focused care.