Antibodies are proteins that are found in blood and are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects. Antibodies prevent pathogens from entering or damaging cells by binding to them. Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that have an affinity to the same antigen and are produced from a common germ cell.   The standard procedure of producing monoclonal antibodies yields mouse antibodies. The human immune system recognizes mouse antibodies as foreign, rapidly removing them from circulation. Hence, humanized antibodies are produced by merging the DNA that encodes the binding portion of a monoclonal mouse antibody with human antibody-producing DNA.
                                               

Folate receptors (FR) mediate cellular folate uptake. Folate receptors are proteins that bind the folic acid. Folate receptor α (FRα) is a folate-binding protein over expressed on ovarian and several other epithelial malignancies but is largely absent from normal tissue.Hence, it can be used as a target for imaging and therapeutic strategies.

A large majority of ovarian tumor cells contain molecule called the folate receptor alpha on the surface of the cell. Humanized monoclonal antibody to the folate receptor alpha attracts normal human blood monocytes, a type of white blood cells that are a part of the immune system. Monocytes are capable of ingesting foreign substances and killing infected cells. The antibody is expected to attract monocytes that may then attack and kill folate receptor alpha-bearing tumor cells, such as cancer cells. This is expected to reduce or to stop the tumor growth.

The effects of humanized monoclonal antibody to the folate receptor alpha were evaluated in experimental models.

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