Donate now to fight cancer!
Irish Cancer Society - logo
Action Prostate Cancer Action Breast Cancer Cancer Research Ireland




Biological Therapies



Cancer growth inhibitors:

Cancer cells need to communicate with each other in order to grow and multiply; they do this through a series of chemical reactions. Drugs called cancer growth inhibitors interrupt the communication process and in this way prevent the cancer from developing. Each cancer growth inhibitor works in a different way, these will be explained in more detail.

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system in response to foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses or toxins antigens .They are the body’s natural defence against infection.

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies made in a laboratory.They aim to destroy some types of cancer cells while causing minimum damage to normal cells.They locate and attach to certain proteins on the surface of particular cancer cells receptors , and ‘lock’ onto them (like a key in a lock).

Once the monoclonal antibody has ‘locked’ into a receptor it can;

  • Cause the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells.
  • Cause the cell to destroy itself.
  • Block the receptor from ‘locking’ with another protein, stopping cancer cell growth.
There are many different types of monoclonal antibodies; each one is made to attach to a different part of the cancer cell. Monoclonal antibodies can be used with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The chemotherapy drug or radioactive substance connects to the monoclonal antibody. In this way the treatment is delivered directly to the cancer cell.Your doctor may refer to this as ‘targeted therapy’ .

Bak to the Shop Floor
Get your company involved


Live chat with a cancer nurse by AliveChat



Contact our helplinesHelplines

National Cancer Helpline
1 800 200 700

Any question
on any cancer
from anybody
free of charge.

Mon-Thurs, 9am-7pm
Friday, 9am-5pm

Smokers' Quitline
1 850 201 203



- MEMBERSHIP -

The Irish Cancer Society is a member of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC)
International Union Against Cancer (UICC)
and the European Cancer Leagues (ECL)
European Cancer Leagues (ECL)

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
This website is accredited by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.

Page last updated: January 04 2010

Join our community: Irish cancer Society in flickr Irish cancer Society in YouTube Irish cancer Society in Facebook Irish cancer Society in Bebo Irish cancer Society in Ammado

Copyright Irish Cancer Society© 1995-2010 | Disclaimer & Terms of Use | Webmaster | Linking to us | Useful links | Charity registration number CHY5863 (Ireland)
Irish Cancer Society, 43/45 Northumberland Road, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel +353 (0)1 2310 500 - More contact information