Overview
Hybridomas are laboratory-created cells made by fusing two type of cells, usually an antibody-producing B-cell and a cancer cell. They are used in research or therapeutics to produce a specific single type of antibody known as a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are becoming increasingly important in the development of targeted therapies for a wide range of illnesses. They are also used to detect and quantify proteins, and in diagnostic tests. Examples of hybridomas include the production of the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin), used in the treatment of breast cancer. Hybridomas are a valuable tool in the fight against various diseases, and offer a means to improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnostic tests.