A precision therapeutic technology and a high-efficiency targeted drug delivery platform based on nanobodies, which can dramatically improve the effectiveness of pancreatic cancer treatment, have been developed in South Korea.
The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced on June 12 that the research team led by Dr. Juyeon Jung at the BioNano Research Center has developed a method to enhance the therapeutic effect of pancreatic cancer by targeting the protein "Mesothelin (MSLN)."
Dr. Juyeon Jung (first on the right) and members of the research team are posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Pancreatic cancer is one of the cancers with the highest global mortality rates. Early diagnosis is difficult, and the five-year survival rate is less than 10 percent, which is why it is classified as a representative intractable cancer. Moreover, the anticancer drugs currently in use attack even normal cells, resulting in severe side effects, and their effectiveness is limited.
In contrast, the precision anticancer drug based on nanobody technology developed by the research team is expected to improve therapeutic outcomes because it can target and attack only cancer cells.
The research team focused on mesothelin, a protein found in particularly high quantities in pancreatic cancer cells. Mesothelin is rarely present in normal cells but is abundantly observed in pancreatic cancer cells and is known to be involved in the growth and metastasis of cancer cells.
Based on this, the team developed a substance that binds exclusively to mesothelin by using "nanobodies," which are small-sized antibodies derived from animals such as camels and llamas.
During the development process, it was confirmed that the "D3 nanobody" exhibited the best performance. The D3 nanobody is small enough to penetrate deep into cancer cells and binds strongly to mesothelin, thereby blocking the mobility and invasiveness of cancer cells while also suppressing the activity of genes that cause the cancer to spread to other locations.
Building on this, the research team developed a next-generation anticancer drug called "D3-LNP-GEM" by loading the D3 nanobody and the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine onto a special lipid nanoparticle (LNP). D3-LNP-GEM acts as a kind of "smart drug delivery vehicle," precisely targeting only cancer cells and delivering the drug like a guided missile.
When the research team administered the treatment to mice with pancreatic cancer, the growth of cancer cells was suppressed by more than 80 percent, and there was almost no impact on normal tissues. This demonstrated stronger efficacy and safety compared to existing anticancer drugs.
Dr. Juyeon Jung stated, "This study focused on presenting a new therapeutic strategy for intractable solid tumors by integrating nanobody technology with a drug delivery platform," and added, "Based on these results, we will accelerate follow-up research and clinical applications so that personalized treatment can be provided for patients with pancreatic cancer as well as various other cancers."
This research was supported by the Basic Research Program for Individuals and major projects of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
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