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Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic approaches have a significant impact in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Rituximab in conjunction with chemotherapy is now standard treatment for follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Furthermore, based on our knowledge of antigen expression on the surface of lymphoma cells has led to development of the other monoclonal antibodies. Those, in clinical use or in clinical trials are shortly described. Similarly many monoclonal antibodies have been introduced for the treatment of solid tumors. These are directed against different targets such as growth factors (e.g. bevacizumab) or against the extracellular domain of epidermal growth factor (i.e. trastuzumab, cetuximab). For improving therapeutic efficacy, conjugated antibodies have been developed. Antibodies conjugated with radioisotopes (90Y), cytotoxic drugs (calicheamycin) or toxins (estafenatox) are used or are under investigation. Knowledge gained from molecular and cellular biology over past decades has driven the development of a new generation of monoclonal antibodies (bispecific/trifunctional antibodies, diabodies, peptibodies, intrabodies, immunocytokines). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]