Development of a novel treatment for head and neck cancer by photochemical internalization of fluorescently labeled anti-Robo1 antibody immunotoxin

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Kanagawa Dental College (2021-2023); The University of Tokyo (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Komatsu Noriko 神奈川歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (10644106)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: イムノトキシン / 光線力学療法 / 光化学的内在化法 / 近赤外線 / iAP法 / Robo1 / 頭頸部癌 / EGFR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the development of new treatments for head and neck cancer, we have been investigating specific and efficient treatments for a target with limited expression (Robo (Roundabout homolog) 1, a transmembrane receptor). By immunotoxin (IT), a toxin conjugated to an antibody with high specificity for the target, with photodynamic therapy (PDT), we have found that PDT promotes endosomal escape from endosomes as a drug delivery effect, resulting in a specific and synergistic cytotoxic effect. We named this method the iTAP method.

Free Research Field

口腔癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

iTAP法を，発現量が少ないために開発が断念されていた様々な標的因子，既存の抗体医薬への応用することで，様々な領域における癌治療で効果を発揮する可能性がある。現在は頭頸部癌治療でひろく用いられているEGFRを標的としたiTAP法についても検討し, EGFR発現が高・中程度の細胞株で高い細胞傷害効果を確認した。