im·mu·no·tox·in 'im-yə-nō-.täk-sən, im-'yü-nō- n a toxin that is linked to a monoclonal antibody and that is delivered to only those cells (as cancer cells) bearing the antigen targeted by the monoclonal antibody to which it is linked
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n.
one of a new class of drugs undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of leukaemia. Immunotoxins combine monoclonal antibody, which can specifically target cancerous cells, with a highly toxic compound (such as ricin) that inactivates the cells' ribosome and thus inhibits protein synthesis. Because the toxin does not attack the whole cell only tiny amounts are required.
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im·mu·no·tox·in (imґu-no-tok″sin) a hybrid molecule formed by coupling an entire toxin or the A chain of a toxin to an antibody or antigen molecule; the resulting molecule has the specificity of the antibody or antigen and the toxicity of the toxin.Medical dictionary. 2011.