| DEVELOPMENT
OF BISPECIFIC HUMAN ANTIBODY FRAGMENTS FOR POTENTIAL
TREATMENT OF HORMONE REFRACTORY PROSTATE CANCER.
Dr Ahuva Nissim Queen Mary's, University of London, Bone and Joint Research Unit |
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Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer type in men and the second leading cause of cancer death. It is characterised by an initial period during which the tumour growth is hormone dependent and thus can be treated by blocking hormone production, which usually results in a temporary regression of the disease.
However, after this period the tumour becomes resistant to this treatment as it adapts to the very low hormone levels. Eventually the tumour continues to grow. It is unclear how this resistance occurs, but the possible involvement of several biological substances is currently under investigation. So far, there has been no effective therapy for the treatment of this type of prostate cancer.
Our objective is to develop prostate-specific therapy by using antibody fragments. Antibodies are proteins produced by the body's immune system that specifically recognize foreign substances in the body to fight infections. The antibody fragment we will use will bind to a specific protein displayed on the surface of prostate cancer cells. In addition the antibody fragment will be combined with a second antibody fragment which will, in turn therapeutically intervene with the adverse biological effects in prostate cancer.
This second antibody fragment will be directed against interleukin 6 (IL-6), a small secreted protein from the family of proteins called cytokines. IL-6 plays a role in the immune response and inflammation, recently reported to be involved in the hormone resistance observed in prostate cancer patients. We will first test the beneficial effectiveness of our new therapy in prostate cancer cells grown artificially. If this produces promising results we will test the therapeutic potential of the new reagent in animals with human prostate cancer.
Research summary, 25 March 2008.
Project 2007/10