The Multifaceted Role of Monoclonal Antibodies in Oral Cancer Therapy – A Narrative Overview

Abstract

Abstract Oral cancer, a part of head-and-neck cancer, is associated with a high risk of mortality which necessitates specificity in the cancer therapy. Known as the fourth pillar among various cancer treatment modalities, immunotherapy requires the stimulation of particular immune system components by modulating the counteraction of signals that cause suppression of the immune system. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) provide numerous benefits over conventional chemotherapeutic drugs due to their increased target specificity and extended half-life. When delivered, mAbs act as cytotoxic agents with varied pharmacological effects that prove as a potential therapeutic approach for cancer therapy. In the current review, a bibliographic search was done in PubMed and other databases for English articles that were published over the last decade. The aim of this paper is to furnish a substantial review that highlights the immunotherapeutic role of selected mAbs and their mechanisms and clinical applications in the treatment of oral cancers. It also emphasizes the versatile role of antibodies with diverse features which have led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.