Monoclonal antibodies against HER2, EGFR, VEGF and CD20
How therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are built, named and cleared, how trastuzumab, cetuximab, bevacizumab and rituximab kill or starve tumour cells, why RAS status decides cetuximab use, and the mechanism-based toxicities examiners ask about.
Tier 2Medical sciences concept
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Therapeutic antibodies are large IgG molecules (about 150 kDa) given IV or subcutaneously. They act on extracellular targets only.
- They kill by blocking ligand or receptor signalling, by immune effector functions (ADCC, complement), or as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that deliver a cytotoxic payload.
- Trastuzumab (HER2): reversible cardiotoxicity. Cetuximab and panitumumab (EGFR): RAS wild-type colorectal cancer only; rash and hypomagnesaemia. Bevacizumab (VEGF-A): hypertension, proteinuria, bleeding, perforation and poor wound healing. Rituximab (CD20): infusion reactions, hepatitis B reactivation, hypogammaglobulinaemia and PML.
Loading the rest of the note…
Finished reading?
Sources
- eviQ cancer treatmentsAU/NZCancer Institute NSW, 2026
- Australian Medicines HandbookAU/NZAustralian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd, 2026
- 2022 ESC Guidelines on cardio-oncologyEuropean Heart Journal (Lyon et al., 2022;43:4229-361), 2022
- Cetuximab-induced anaphylaxis and IgE specific for galactose-alpha-1,3-galactoseNew England Journal of Medicine (Chung et al., 2008;358:1109-17), 2008
- Trastuzumab deruxtecan in previously treated HER2-low advanced breast cancer (DESTINY-Breast04)New England Journal of Medicine (Modi et al., 2022;387:9-20), 2022
- Hepatitis B virus screening and management for patients with cancer prior to therapy: ASCO provisional clinical opinion updateJournal of Clinical Oncology (Hwang et al., 2020;38:3698-715), 2020
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Turnstile bot check on sign-in and signed-out feedback