Novel immunotherapy technology for prostate cancer

Scientists have described a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer based on the use of synthetic DNA to directly encode protective antibodies against a cancer specific protein.

Researchers at The Wistar Institute devised a novel DNA-based approach in which an engineered DNA plasmid is constructed and used to deliver the instructions to make the desired anti-PSMA antibody so that the therapy can be generated in the patient’s body in a sustained manner.

One of the immunotherapeutic approaches that has been explored thus far relies on the use of monoclonal antibodies that specifically target a protein present on the surface of prostate cancer cells called prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) to elicit an anti-tumour immune response and control the cancer. Although promising, this strategy is limited by the production cost required to make these therapeutic antibodies. Additionally, multiple infusions are often required to achieve efficacy.

“This is an important demonstration of the possibilities opened up for immunotherapy by DMAb technology to direct in vivo production of antibodies of major relevance to human cancer,” said Dr David B. Weiner, Executive Vice President of The Wistar Institute. “There is a great need for such new approaches for prostate disease as well as many other cancers. As recent data suggest, PSMA is an important cancer antigen expressed on many human prostate, bladder, renal as well as ovarian cancers, so additional study of the possible benefits of this therapy are important,” he added.

“Our data provide proof of concept that DMAb engineered DNA plasmids can be successfully used to target important cancers,” said Dr Kar Muthumani, assistant professor in the Translational Tumour Immunology Program at Wistar, member of the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Centre and lead author of the study. “The unique features of our synthetic DNA-based system make it a promising novel approach for cancer therapy, alone or in combination with other treatments.”