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How are monoclonal antibodies used to identify cancer cells in tissue samples?

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Diagram of an antibody molecule showing two identical light chains and two identical heavy chains joined by disulfide bonds in a Y-shaped structure, with labeled regions for antigen binding and effector function. — antibody The four-chain structure of an antibody, or immunoglobulin, molecule. The basic unit is composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains, which are held together by disulfide bonds to form a flexible Y shape. Each chain is composed of a variable (V) region and a constant (C) region.

Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific molecules produced through biotechnology that can recognize and bind to individual antigenic sites on a target molecule. Because of this exquisite specificity, they are used to distinguish different types of cells by identifying unique marker molecules on their surfaces.12

In the context of oncology, monoclonal antibodies that react with specific cancer antigens are applied to tissue samples to identify cancer cells. By binding exclusively to these markers, the antibodies allow researchers and clinicians to detect the presence of malignant cells within the tissue.12

Additionally, these antibodies can be used for diagnostic imaging. When short-lived radioactive atoms are attached to the antibodies and administered to a patient, the antibodies accumulate at the site of the cancer. Instruments capable of detecting this radioactivity then allow physicians to locate cancerous sites within the body without the need for surgical intervention.2