Targeted therapies in hematological malignancies using therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against Eph family receptors

•Monoclonal antibody therapy is a successful therapeutic strategy in many cancers.•High expression of Eph receptors is found in hematopoietic malignancies.•High specificity of Eph receptors is found on malignant hematopoietic cells.•Eph receptors can be used as a target for antibody therapy in hematological malignancies. The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and molecules derived from them has achieved considerable attention and success in recent years, establishing this mode of therapy as an important therapeutic strategy in many cancers, in particular hematological tumors. mAbs recognize cell surface antigens expressed on target cells and mediate their function through various mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, or immune system modulation. The efficacy of mAb therapy can be improved when they are conjugated to a highly potent payloads, including cytotoxic drugs and radiolabeled isotopes. The Eph family of proteins has received considerable attention in recent years as therapeutic targets for treatment of both solid and hematological cancers. High expression of Eph receptors on cancer cells compared with low expression levels in normal adult tissues makes them an attractive candidate for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we detail the modes of action of antibody-based therapies with a focus on the Eph family of proteins as potential targets for therapy in hematological malignancies.