Study reveals two-fisted antibody approach effective at killing ovarian cancer

Researchers, led by an Indian origin, have developed a two-fisted, antibody approach that can effectively destroy ovarian cancer -- the deadliest gynecological disease -- and could also be utilized to kill breast, prostate, and other solid tumors.

According to Jogender Tushir-Singh from the University of Virginia's (UVA), a major problem with immune therapies for ovarian cancer is that the immune cells intended to kill the cancer cells could not infiltrate the solid tumor bed effectively.

So he engineered an antibody that he likens to a "two-headed arrow".

One head of this dual-pronged "arrow" strikes what is known as the death receptor on the cancer cells, forcing them to die, while the other head strikes a receptor known as FOLR1, a well-established marker that suggests a poor prognosis.

"There are a lot of efforts in terms of cancer immune therapy, but the success of these is really limited in solid tumors," Tushir-Singh said.

"I found that one of the problems is with the solid tumor microenvironment.

"The microenvironment is highly hypoxic, anergic and, particularly in the case of ovarian cancer, some unusually large receptors form a protective fence around tumor cells, so even if the immune cells reach there, there are many obstacles," he explained.

The newly engineered antibodies are over 100 times more effective at killing cancer cells than the antibodies that have made it to clinical trials.

Further, the approach also avoids toxicity issues that have plagued previous antibody therapies.

"Liver toxicity has been the biggest problem for a lot of antibodies -- they are taken out of the blood too fast and accumulate where not needed," Tushir-Singh said.

"But by providing a good home for the antibodies in a tumor, we are keeping these antibodies away from the liver," he noted.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)