The advantages of nanobodies and the prospects these offer in cancer treatment.

Abstract

VHH fragments, also called nanobodies, derived from heavy-chain only antibodies (HCAb) originally found in camels, are the so far smallest known antibody fragments that are still capable of antigen binding with high specificity. These nanobodies have properties that make them superi- or in many ways compared to conventional antibodies. They are therefore being used in an in- creasing number of varying applications ranging from uses in consumer products because of their low costs of manufacturing to the inhibition of enzymes because of their unique binding capabili- ties and small size. In therapeutics, however, nanobodies receive special attention in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Properties like better tissue penetration make them suitable for the treatment of solid tumors and their monomeric nature for instance opens up other strategies in cancer therapeutics. In this review an overview is presented of several advantages that nanobodies have together with some of the applications that make use of these. The emphasis of the possible uses of nanobodies, however, is on their use in cancer therapy. The mentioned advantages of nanobodies are described in relation to possible new and improved applications they offer in re- gard to cancer treatment.