Bispecific monoclonal antibodies for cancer immunotherapy

Nominating Supervisor: Walter Bodmer

Second Supervisor: Peter McHugh

The Project

Monoclonal antibodies (MCAs) are now widely used for cancer therapy. DNA recombinant technology enables the production of MCAs that target cancer specific determinants and immune cells, attracting them to the cancer cells and so killing them.  MCAs can now be produced that target intra-cellular proteins through attaching to protein fragments attached to HLA system proteins on the cell surface. This enables production of bispecific antibodies that kill cancer cells by recognition of intra cellular proteins. This project will involve the production and characterisation of such antibodies and their preclinical testing on our panel of colorectal cancer derived cell lines.

The Training

A combination of extensive cellular, molecular and immunological techniques with exposure to

statistical bioinformatics approaches to data analysis and modelling. Also, opportunities to work

with fresh human biopsy material for organoid production and to be involved in considerations of

clinical applications for treatment of colorectal and other cancers.

Publications

Neil Ashley, Trevor Yeung and Walter F Bodmer (2013) Stem cell differentiation and lumen 

formation in colorectal, cancer cell lines and primary tumours. Cancer Res; 73(18); 5798–809.

Hsia L, Ashley N, Ouaret D, Wang L, Wilding J, Bodmer W F.(2016) Myofibroblasts are 

distinguished from activated skin fibroblasts by the expression of AOC3 and other associated 

markers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113(15):E2162 - 2171. 

Marina Bacac et al (2016) A Novel Carcinoembryonic Antigen T-Cell Bispecific Antibody (CEA TCB) for 

the Treatment of Solid Tumors. Clinical Cancer Research. Published On line First February 9, 2016. 

DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-16