Shark Antibody Could Treat Cancer

 Medicine  

A molecule found in shark blood could help in the fight against cancer. IgNAR antibodies could be used to prevent the growth of cancer cells in patients.

A unique type of antibody that is only found in the blood of sharks could have a big role to play in the battle against breast cancer. Scientists claim the unique IgNAR antibodies could be used to prevent the growth of cancer cells in patients and develop new drugs to fight the most common forms of the disease. Now, funded by the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR), a group of biologists from the University of Aberdeen are going to carry out a three-year study to see just what the antibodies are capable of.

Thanks to the £200,000 awarded to them by the Scottish cancer research charity, they will focus on two molecules – HER2 and HER3.

Both of these are found on the surface of cancer cells. When paired up, they are responsible for signalling cancer cells to grow and divide. The researchers want to find out if the IgNAR antibodies could potentially be used to stop these molecules from working and sending the signal.

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Dr Helen Dooley, from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences, has been chosen to lead the study.

“IgNAR antibodies are interesting because they bind to targets, such as viruses or parasites, in a very different way to the antibodies found in humans,” she said. “They can do this because their attachment region is very small and so can fit into spaces that human antibodies cannot. We believe we can exploit the novel binding of IgNAR and use it to stop HER2 and HER3 molecules from working, and prompting cancer cells to grow and divide.”

If successful, new anti-cancer drugs based on these unique shark antibodies could one day be readily available.

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer in the UK. Of those diagnosed with the disease, more than 85% live for at least five years after their diagnosis and more than 75% live for at least 10 years.

It is hoped that new drugs based on the IgNAR antibodies will help prolong the lives of patients and also prevent people from developing the disease in the first place. Very high levels of HER2 are found on the surface of cancer cells in women who have HER2-positive breast cancer, which affects around a quarter of women with breast cancer. HER2-positive breast cancer can be treated with drugs, although resistance to this successful treatment is a growing problem – hence the need for alternative therapies.

By Daniel Machin

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This article was written by Daniel Machin on behalf of HCA Hospitals. He recommends that you consult a professional physician if you have any health concerns.