New Breakthrough in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Developed by University of Copenhagen Researchers

New Breakthrough in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Developed by University of Copenhagen Researchers

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet have made significant strides in developing a new treatment for pancreatic cancer using antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This targeted therapy promises to improve survival rates by precisely attacking cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The new treatment also targets the supportive cells in tumors, weakening them and making the cancer more vulnerable to the immune system. With the potential for clinical trials in the coming years, this innovation could mark a major breakthrough in cancer care, not just for pancreatic cancer but also for other hard-to-treat cancers.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 22-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Research from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet has brought a promising new treatment for pancreatic cancer to the forefront, offering hope for improved survival rates and enhanced quality of life for patients. The groundbreaking study focuses on a new drug that could represent a significant step forward in treating one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Pancreatic cancer has long been notorious for its high mortality rate, with only 12% of men and 14% of women surviving five years post-diagnosis.

The lack of progress in treating pancreatic cancer over the past two decades has made this new development particularly significant. Researchers have turned to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a technology that has shown success in treating other cancers, including sarcoma. ADCs work by combining antibodies that target cancer cells with chemotherapy drugs, which are delivered directly to the cells. This targeted approach allows for precise treatment, reducing damage to healthy cells and minimizing side effects commonly seen with traditional therapies.

Lars Henning Engelholm, a group leader at the Finsen Laboratory at Rigshospitalet and a co-author of the study, explained: “Our study has shown promising results with a new ADC that attacks pancreatic cancer on multiple fronts. This drug not only kills the cancer cells but also targets the support cells, which help the cancer grow and shield itself. By eliminating these support cells, we make the tumor more vulnerable to the immune system.”

The ADC treatment developed in this study has three key components: an antibody that binds to the cancer cells, a chemical linker that connects the antibody to the chemotherapy drug, and the chemotherapy itself. Once the ADC enters the cancer cell, the linker breaks down, releasing the chemotherapy agent inside the cell and destroying it from within. This targeted delivery minimizes the damage to surrounding healthy tissue, making it a promising option for cancers that are difficult to treat.

In addition to its precision, the ADC treatment has been designed with human safety in mind. The researchers have “humanized” the ADC antibody, modifying its structure to ensure that it is not recognized as foreign by the immune system, which could otherwise attack it. This crucial step ensures the treatment’s safety and effectiveness, paving the way for clinical trials on humans.

The researchers’ success in developing an ADC for sarcoma, which led to FDA approval for clinical trials, further strengthens the potential of this technology for pancreatic cancer. “Our goal is to develop this treatment to a stage where it can attract funding from pharmaceutical or biotech companies, allowing us to move toward human clinical trials in the next three to five years,” Engelholm said. The team is already exploring the potential of ADCs in treating other cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer and colon cancer, where there is an urgent need for better therapies.

This breakthrough study, titled “Targeting uPAR with an antibody-drug conjugate suppresses tumor growth and reshapes the immune landscape in pancreatic cancer models,” has been published in Science Advances, underscoring the potential for ADCs to transform cancer treatment.

Media Contact:

Lars Henning Engelholm
Associate Professor and Group Leader
lhe@finsenlab.dk
+45 31 43 20 77

Sascha Kael Rasmussen
Journalist
sascha.kael.rasmussen@sund.ku.dk
+45 93 56 51 68

SOURCE: University of Copenhagen