A review of biologic anti-cancer medicines

Biologic medicines prepared using living organisms by the process of biotechnology have demonstrated improved bioavailability, specificity and effectiveness in the treatment of various diseases especially cancer. Cancer is caused due to malfunctioning of the immune system, and biologic therapy can repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune response. Biologic antibodies prepared in laboratory can bind to the surface of cancer cells and target them in a specific way. They can also work synergistically with chemotherapy to improve the outcome. Since biologics utilize the immune system, it may be advantageous to use them before the immune system is compromised. In spite of these advantages, high cost of these products may limit their use. The first biologic approved for therapeutic use was biosynthetic “human” insulin made by recombinant DNA technology in 1982. Since then, biologics have had a profound effect on rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, oncology, and other medical disciplines. Conventional treatments like surgery and radiotherapy are effective in case of localized tumors, but may not be effective for disseminated disease or tumors located in non-invasive areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach. Despite the potency of cytotoxic chemotherapy and the specificity of immunotherapy, neither method alone has been sufficient to eradicate the disease. There is evidence that standard chemotherapy may work in synergy with active immunization for more effective antitumor immunity, and there is great potential for the combination of these treatment modalities. This review aims to enumerate the various biologic anti-cancer preparations available in market along with their mechanism of action and intended medical use.