Affimed validates antibody target for cancer metastasis

05-14-2008: Affimed Therapeutics AG announced that a collaboration with Dr. Stefan Weiss at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich has strongly validated a target for cancer metastases amenable to the development of antibodies or other therapeutic interventions. The target, 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor and/ or its receptor, is overexpressed in cancer cell lines and their metastatic potential correlates with LRP/LR levels. Affimed was able to demonstrate that an antibody targeting this receptor could reduce invasive potential by up to 40% and adhesion by up to 70%.

LRP/LR acts as a receptor for prions and viruses, but has also been shown to be overexpressed in metastatic cancer tissue. In the present study, it was challenged in a metastatic cancer cell line with a variety of therapeutic strategies including single chain and full IgG antibodies, siRNAs and small molecules (polysulfated glycanes).The effects on the invasive and adhesive properties of the cells were examined using in vitro models of cell migration. Invasion and adhesion are the processes by which cancer cells metastasize and spread to multiple other regions of the body. The single chain and full length antibodies were able to reduce invasion by 30% and 40%, respectively, and adhesion by 60% and 70%, respectively.

Prof. Melvyn Little, CSO of Affimed commented: "Our data suggest that reagents directed against LRP/LR, in particular antibodies, might be potential cancer therapeutics blocking metastases. Once again we have been able to demonstrate Affimed's competence in generating new, fully human antibodies against innovative targets."

Original publication: Zuber, C., Knackmuss, S., Zemora , G., Reusch, U., Vlasova, E., Diehl, D., Mick , V., Hofmann, K., Nikles, D., Fröhlich, T., Arnold, G., Brenig, B., Wolf, E., Lahm, H., Little, M., & Weiss, S.; "Invasion of tumorigenic HT1080 cells is impeded by blocking or downregulating the 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor."; Journal of Molecular Biology 2008, Volume 378, Issue 3, Pages 530-539.