The Development and Clinical Application of Hybridomas

Having succeeded in demonstrating its value in basic research, hybridoma technology has now begun to make significant contributions to clinical medicine. The ability of this technology to permit the development of large quantities of homogeneous highly specific antibodies to virtually all antigenic determinants is being particularly explored in the field of oncology. Although it is too early to know if monoclonal antibodies specific for human tumors can be used in vivo to treat these tumors, sufficient data is now available to indicate that diagnosis, prognosis and ex vivo therapy of human tumors can be accomplished even with monoclonal antibodies which are not completely specific for the tumor. Attempts are now being made to develop monoclonal antibodies to allergens for use in identification of components responsible for an allergic effect and to define the biologically active structures of the allergen. The future availability of human hybridoma antibodies reactive to allergens of clinical significance could permit a clearer understanding of the properties of the allergen responsible for its activity and may lead to appropriate immunotherapy.