Umeå Researchers Develop Fully Human Antibody That Blocks Metastasis in Aggressive Prostate Cancer
核心洞察
A fully human antibody targeting oncogenic TGFβ (搜索) signaling has demonstrated the ability to halt both tumor growth and metastasis in preclinical models of aggressive prostate cancer (搜索).
The study, published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, maps key mechanisms by which cancer cells hijack the TGFβ (搜索) pathway to drive invasiveness and metastatic spread.
The drug target was shown to be highly expressed in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (搜索), with clinical validation contributed by Professor Johann de Bono at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
A research team led by Professor Maréne Landström at Umeå University has developed a fully human antibody capable of blocking both tumor growth and metastasis in aggressive prostate cancer (搜索), marking a significant preclinical milestone published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
The antibody, composed entirely of human proteins, is designed to be suitable for therapeutic use. In preclinical studies, it successfully halted tumor growth and metastatic spread in an aggressive form of prostate cancer (搜索). The treatment operates through a novel mechanism of action, leading researchers to believe the risk of side effects may be reduced compared with existing approaches.
"The new drug has been developed to prevent metastasis, and we are very pleased and proud that we have been able to identify the mechanisms that drive cancer cell growth, invasiveness, and metastatic spread," said Maréne Landström, Professor of Pathology at the Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, who led the study.
Targeting the TGFβ (搜索) Signaling Pathway
The study mapped key mechanisms in the TGFβ (搜索) signaling pathway, which cancer cells can hijack to drive tumor growth and metastasis. The findings reveal how cancer cells become invasive and identify specific points where this process can be blocked. The research also demonstrates that the company's drug target is highly expressed in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (搜索).
"Highly aggressive prostate cancer (搜索) depends on oncogenic TGFβ (搜索) signaling for both growth and metastasis. In our preclinical studies, we have shown that our antibody can effectively stop both processes," said Maarten de Château, CEO of MetaCurUm Biotech (搜索).
The publication establishes the mechanism of action of the therapeutic antibody and represents the first full scientific description of the molecule. Preclinical data showed that MetaCurUm's antibody reduces tumor growth in prostate cancer (搜索) in a dose-dependent model.
Clinical Validation and International Collaboration
The study was conducted in collaboration with leading international researchers, including Professor Johann de Bono at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. Professor de Bono contributed clinically important data demonstrating that the drug target is strongly expressed in metastatic prostate cancer (搜索) patients, validating the research hypothesis.
"Professor de Bono has contributed clinically important data demonstrating that our drug target is strongly expressed in metastatic prostate cancer (搜索) patients, validating our hypothesis. He will play an increasingly important role going forward," said Landström.
Broader Therapeutic Potential
Beyond prostate cancer (搜索), the antibody has shown activity in preclinical models of triple-negative breast cancer (搜索), where it inhibited both primary tumor growth and metastasis. The researchers are now investigating whether the treatment can be applied to other types of solid tumors.
"Our therapy has the potential to extend survival and reduce suffering in patients with aggressive prostate cancer (搜索)," Landström said. "We hope that our work will ultimately contribute to the development of a new cancer drug that can benefit patients."
Path Toward Clinical Development
MetaCurUm Biotech (搜索), the Umeå-based biotechnology company advancing the candidate known as Meta‑CD (搜索), is now focused on preclinical development, regulatory preparations, and securing financing for the transition into clinical studies.
"This is a promising step forward, but several important stages remain before the treatment can benefit patients. We still need to conduct additional safety studies, and the treatment must be approved by regulatory authorities in Europe or the United States," Landström noted.
"We are preparing for regulatory interactions and awaiting additional in vivo data to support financing of the transition into clinical development," added de Château.
The project has benefited from collaboration with drug development experts at the SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform (搜索) and received support from the Umeå Biotech Incubator at Umeå University. Funding was provided by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Erling Persson Foundation, the Kempe Foundations, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society, ALF funding, the Swedish Prostate Cancer (搜索) Federation, the Cancer Research Foundation in Northern Sweden, and the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University. MetaCurUm Biotech (搜索) AB also provided crucial funding for the development and testing of the new treatment.