Researchers have developed a new antibody that helps the body’s immune system detect and destroy hard-to-treat cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer.
Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes of the University of Queensland said the antibody targets a unique part of the ROR1 protein, which is present on many aggressive cancer cells but rarely on healthy tissue.
“The antibody precisely targets cancer cells, helping the immune system kill them more effectively while sparing healthy tissue,” Dr. Guimaraes said. “This could lead to treatments that are both more effective and gentler.”
Dr. Guimaraes and his team at the Frazer Institute discovered that the antibody activates natural killer (NK) cells, a type of immune cell that destroys tumors.
The antibody showed the best results when combined with a treatment that blocks an immunosuppressive signal in cancer cells called Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β).
“We engineered ‘super NK cells’ to boost cancer control,” Dr. Guimaraes said. “By giving NK cells a genetic upgrade and making them resistant to TGF-β, we created enhanced immune cells that could more efficiently locate and destroy ROR1-positive tumors in both lab and animal models.”
Triple-negative breast cancer is highly aggressive and currently has limited treatment options. Dr. Guimaraes said the research opens new avenues for immunotherapy, including NK cells engineered to better target and kill cancer cells.
“If successful in humans, this approach could improve survival and quality of life by shrinking tumors with fewer side effects than some existing therapies,” he said. “It could pave the way for clinical trials and, ultimately, new treatment options for patients with few alternatives.”
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