Final answer:
Monoclonal antibodies are produced through a fusion process of mouse B cells and myeloma cells and are notable for their specificity to a single antigen epitope, making them effective for targeted cancer treatments. The production process is complex and costly, but humanized monoclonal antibodies have been FDA-approved for clinical use and have shown success in treating certain cancers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Monoclonal antibodies are produced by a unique process involving the fusion of antibody-producing B cells from a mouse with myeloma cells. These cells are then grown in tissue culture to obtain monoclonal antibodies. Specifically, an antigen is injected into a mouse, inducing an immune response where polyclonal B cells are generated. The B cells from the mouse's spleen are fused with myeloma cells to create hybridoma cells. These cells are then cultured, and hybridomas that produce the desired monoclonal antibody are selected and grown in large numbers. The cancer treatment capabilities of monoclonal antibodies stem from their high specificity, as they are designed to bind with high affinity to a single epitope of the antigen. These antibodies can be 'humanized' for clinical use in humans, thus reducing the risk of an immune response against the therapy.
Contrary to monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies are produced in live animals and show variability in specificity and affinity, which reduces their effectiveness in targeted therapies. The monoclonal antibodies approach for cancer treatment has been successful with several FDA-approved drugs, proving beneficial in diseases such as certain types of breast cancer. Nevertheless, the cost of producing monoclonal antibodies remains a significant challenge.