Bispecific antibodies in clinical tumor therapy

Bispecific antibody (BsAb) has two different antigen-binding sites, divided into the "IgG-like" format and the "non-IgG-like" format. Different formats have different characteristics and applications. BsAb has higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional antibodies, with special functions such as recruitment of immune cells and blocking of dual signaling pathways, playing an important role in immune-diagnosis and therapy. With the deterioration of the global environment and the irregular living habits of people, the incidence of tumor is becoming higher and higher. Tumor becomes the most serious fatal disease threatening human health after cardiovascular disease. There are 12 million estimated new tumor cases each year worldwide. The major clinical treatments of tumor are surgical resection, chemoradiotherapy, target therapy. Tumor immunotherapy is a novel approach for tumor treatment in recent years, and activates human immune system to control and kill tumor cells. Although the traditional monoclonal antibodies have already acquired some therapeutic effects in tumor targeted therapy and immunotherapy, they induce drug resistance resulted from the heterogeneity and plasticity of tumors. Binding to two target antigens at the same time, BsAb has been used in the clinical treatment of tumors and obtained promising outcomes. This review elaborates the research progress and applications of bispecific antibody in clinical tumor therapy.