Antibody-based therapy for cancers

Robert Kypta

Asociación Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biociencias-CIC bioGUNE, Derio, Spain

Metastatic tumours tend to be more resistant to conventional therapies, making it essential to find new therapeutic targets. Wnt family proteins play signalling roles, and it has been observed that Wnt signals are activated in therapy-resistant metastatic cancers. Various inhibitory approaches are being developed, some of which are now in clinical trials. However, these approaches lack specificity and may also affect beneficial Wnt signals, which can lead to such side effects as bone fractures.

Wnt11 is a protein highly expressed in prostate tumours. It promotes cell migration and invasion, suggesting it has a role in prostate cancer progression and metastasis. The team has developed antibodies directed against this protein that reduce the migration and invasion of cancer cells, slowing tumour growth and the development of metastasis. The aim now is to advance the necessary steps to bring this new therapy closer to the clinic, since it could be used to treat patients with metastatic prostate tumours, for example, in combination with anti-androgen therapies, or with other types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer, where Wnt11 is also highly expressed.

Humanized Wnt-11 antibodies for cancer therapy: further validation and asset development

Stage 2