Start of funding 01.01.2009

Development and functional testing of new antibody-derived fusion proteins with therapeutic potential for prostate cancer

Prof. Dr. Georg Fey
Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Dr. Todd A. Braciak
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
Div. of Immune Regulation



Drs. T. Braciak from the Torrey Pines Institute of Molecular Studies, San Diego and G. Fey from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg try to develop a new recombinant protein, a tandem bispecific single-chain Fv antibody fragment (bsscFv), for therapeutic use against prostate cancer. The protein reacts with a subset of highly invasive prostate cancer cells and with the trigger molecule CD16 on natural killer cells (NK cells) and macrophages. Proteins of this format effectively eliminate other types of cancer cells, and the partners attempt here to adapt the format to prostate cancer. The hypothesis will be tested that this agent may react primarily with highly metastatic cells and possibly the most important target, cancer stem cells.