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Funded Research 2006
Development and assessment of targeted radionuclide combined with death inducing and growth inhibiting immunotherapy for potential treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).
Ahuva Nissim and Steve Mather, Barts and the London School of Medicine
Dr Ahuva Nissim at Barts
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, but however, favours the selection and growth of tumour cells that are resistant to this treatment. The exact mechanism of this resistance is not known, but the possible involvement of several substances is currently under investigation. This include substances named growth factors which are known to affect the growth of cells, as well as 'anti-death' proteins which inhibit the death of cells. In addition, small secreted proteins named cytokines known to play a role in regulating the immune response and inflammation are recently also reported to be part of the hormone resistance mechanism. So far, there has been no effective therapy for the treatment of this type of prostate cancer. Efforts are focused on inhibition of growth factors or inhibition of anti-death proteins, but however, has to date achieved little success in the treatment of prostate cancers.
Our objective is to develop prostate-specific therapy based on specific delivery of radiotherapy by antibody fragments, a protein produced by the body's immune system that specifically recognizes and fight infections and other foreign substances in the body. The antibody fragment we will use will bind to specific proteins displayed on the surface of prostate cancer cells. In addition the antibody will be combined with other biological interventions such as blockade of growth factors and cytokines as well as induction of cell death. We will first test the efficacy of our new therapy in prostate cancer cells grown artificially. If this showed to be promising we will test the therapeutic potential of the new reagent using animals with human prostate cancer.
Project commenced
May 2006
Length of project
2 years
Amount Supported
£92,000
