Therapeutic/Technology: Antibody
Clinical Investigation of a Humanized Anti-CD47 Antibody in Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Hematologic Malignancies and Solid Tumors
Most normal tissues are maintained by a small number of stem cells that can both self-renew to maintain stem cell numbers, and also give rise to progenitors that make mature cells. We have shown that normal stem cells can accumulate mutations that cause progenitors to self-renew out of control, forming cancer stem cells (CSC). CSC […]
Therapeutic Eradication of Cancer Stem Cells with UC-961 (Cirmtuzumab)
Cancer is a leading cause of death in California. Research has found that many cancers can spread throughout the body and resist current anti-cancer therapies because of cancer stem cells, or CSC. CSC can be considered the seeds of cancer; they can resist being killed by anti-cancer drugs and can lay dormant, sometimes for long […]
Clinical Development of an N-cadherin Antibody to Target Cancer Stem Cells
Metastatic disease and the castration resistance remain tremendous challenges in the treatment of prostate cancer. New targeted treatments, such as the ant-testosterone medication enzalutamide, have improved the survival of men with advanced disease, but a majority develops treatment resistance. The field of cancer stem cells hypothesizes that treatment resistance emerges because stem cells are inherently […]
A monoclonal antibody that depletes blood stem cells and enables chemotherapy free transplants
Successful stem cell therapy requires the replacement of diseased or dysfunctional stem cells with healthy ones. These healthy stem cells can come from either a donor or can be stem cells that are modified by gene therapy techniques. One important step in this process of repair and replacement is to eliminate the existing diseased cells […]
Development of Therapeutic Antibodies Targeting Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that is rapidly fatal within months if untreated. Even with aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, five-year overall survival rates range between 30-40%. Evidence indicates that not all cells in this cancer are the same, and that there is a […]
Development of Highly Active Anti-Leukemia Stem Cell Therapy (HALT)
Leukemias are cancers of the blood forming cells that afflict both children and adults. Many drugs have been developed to treat leukemias and related diseases. These drugs are often effective when first given, but in many cases of adult leukemia, the disease returns in a form that is not curable, causing disability and eventual death. […]
Targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells with DDR1 antibodies.
Research Objective A therapeutic antibody to DDR1 for targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells to overcome resistance to chemotherapy and potentiate the treatment of advanced cancer. Impact PDAC is lethal cancer that poorly responds chemotherapy to which it becomes resistant. DDR1 antagonistic Abs should improve chemotherapy responsiveness and may cause tumor regression as a monotherapy. Major […]
Targeted Immunotherapy-Based Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
Research Objective An engineered antibody construct that targets and recruits immune cells to kill diseased blood stem cells, including leukemia stem cells, so that healthy stem cells can replace the diseased ones Impact An antibody that can direct immune cells to kill diseased stem cells would make stem cell transplant safer, more accessible and effective […]
Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Hematologic Malignancies
Research Objective We will develop a biotherapeutic/monoclonal antibody that blocks the growth of human AML cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Impact Treatment of the cancer stem cell driven disease Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) will be impacted. AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults and current treatments are largely ineffective. Major […]
Lgr5-mediated self-renewal in B cell selection and leukemia-initiation
Research Objective LGR5-antibody drug conjugate to target LIC in B cell tumors that undergo self-renewal Impact LIC were only defined in myeloid leukemia, while LIC populations in B cell tumors remain elusive. LICs give rise to drug-resistance and relapse and remain unsolved clinical problems in B cell tumors. Major Proposed Activities Proof of concept studies- […]