Misc 2: Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

Name the four monoclonal antibodies.

Answer 1

Rituximab, trastuzumab, cetuximab, and ipilimumab

Question 2

What antigen does rituximab target, and what cancer is it therefore used to treat?

Answer 2

CD20 (B-cell antigen); Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Question 3

What antigen does trastuzumab target, and what cancer is it therefore used to treat?

Answer 3

HER2/neu; HER2(+) metastatic breast cancer

Question 4

What antigen does cetuximab target, and what cancer is it therefore used to treat?

Answer 4

EGFR1; EGFR(+) metastatic colorectal cancer

Question 5

What cancer is ipilimumab used to treat?

Answer 5

Melanoma

Question 6

Which monoclonal antibody is associated with severe side effects such as interstitial pneumonitis, dermatological problems, renal failure, electrolyte abnormalities, and sudden cardiac death?

Answer 6

Cetuximab

Question 7

Name 2 important side effects of trastuzumab.

Answer 7

Hypersensitivity reactions and ventricular dysfunction

Question 8

What monoclonal antibody is usually combined with taxanes to treat breast cancer?

Answer 8

Trastuzumab

Question 9

Which monoclonal antibody requires careful monitoring because it is known to cause side effects such as infusion reactions, skin reactions, irregular heartbeats, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), severe mucocutaneous reactions, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)?

Answer 9

Rituximab

Question 10

Name 3 immune processes that are activated by the CD20 antibody rituximab.

Answer 10

Apoptosis, complement, and cell-mediated immunity

Question 11

Give 2 hypotheses for how trastuzumab modulates the HER2/neu receptor

Answer 11

Trastuzumab may enhance receptor endocytosis or block receptor dimerization

Question 12

Which monoclonal antibody stimulates the immune system by inhibiting CTLA4 (Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen 4)?

Answer 12

Ipilimumab

Question 13

Which monoclonal antibody inhibits the gene ErbB1?

Answer 13

Cetuximab

Question 14

Which monoclonal antibody, currently in clinical trials, will probably be used in combination with cisplatin?

Answer 14

Cetuximab

Question 15

Which monoclonal antibody can cause ventricular dysfunction and cardiotoxicity, especially when used in association with doxorubicin?

Answer 15

Trastuzumab

Question 16

Which monoclonal antibody can be used to treat non-Hodgkins lymphoma?

Answer 16

Rituximab