Using paired HER2 antibodies that 'click' to boost drug delivery to breast and stomach tumors
Reversing Drug Resistance in Tumors with Clickable Antibody Pairs
Aims to use two different HER2-targeting antibodies that 'click' together on tumor cells to deliver more cancer-killing drug for people with HER2-positive or HER2-low breast and stomach cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263688 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers are developing pairs of HER2-targeting antibody-drug molecules that bind different spots on the same cancer cell and chemically 'click' together on the cell surface to increase how much drug the cell takes up. In lab and animal models they saw much higher internalization and better uptake on PET imaging when the clickable pairs were used. The project will optimize these epitope-distinct antibody-ADC combinations and test them in models of breast and gastric cancers that are resistant or have mixed HER2 levels. The goal is to make antibody-based drugs work better in tumors that currently respond poorly or stop responding over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with HER2-positive or HER2-low breast or stomach (gastric) cancer, especially those whose tumors have become resistant to current HER2 treatments, would be the primary candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express HER2 or whose cancer is driven by unrelated mechanisms are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make antibody-drug therapies work in more people with HER2-expressing or HER2-low tumors and help overcome treatment resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Existing antibody-drug conjugates have improved outcomes in HER2-positive cancers, but the clickable antibody-pair approach is novel and so far supported mainly by preclinical lab and animal data.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ribeiro Pereira, Patricia Manuela — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Ribeiro Pereira, Patricia Manuela
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.