A type of antibody treatment that combines three different functions has successfully treated mice with cancer, in new research from Sweden.

The work, at EARA member Uppsala University, as well as the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institute, both in Stockholm, and biotech company Strike Pharma AB, in Uppsala, developed a ‘three-in-one’ treatment to precisely target and deliver drugs to cancer cells (via the antibody BiA9*2_HF), but also to simultaneously activate the immune system. 

That means the treatment directs the immune system to target specific gene mutations only found in cancer cells (neoantigens), while amplifying the effect of immune T cells – which can identify and eliminate cancer cells.

When tested in mice with cancer tumours, the antibody treatment (which is also an immunotherapy because it makes use of the immune system) both prolonged survival and, at higher doses, prevented the animals from developing cancer.  

In addition, a molecule called a peptide can be created that is tailored to a particular cancer and tumour, and that can then be linked to the core antibody, to develop a custom, precision medicine for different types of cancer.

“Both in terms of production cost and the short time it takes to tailor a peptide to a new tumour, this increases availability and should make it quicker for patients to go from diagnosis to treatment,” explained Johan Rockberg, at KTH.