Immunotoxins: Selection of cell-surface antigens and their corresponding monoclonal antibodies

Immunotoxins (ITs) are complex molecules. To be effective, they must have a number of desirable features relating to the linker, the toxin component, the antibody component, and the target antigen, to name just a few. Other chapters in this volume have discussed linkers and toxins. This chapter will focus on target antigens and their corresponding monoclonal antibodies. Discussion will be limited primarily to ITs, defined as an antibody coupled to a protein toxin (including A chains and hemitoxins), although mention will also be made of antigen-toxin conjugates.