Running Cancer Interference

December 1, 2011

Running interference also turns out to be an effective strategy to keep cancer from spreading, says Dr. Michael Schickler, CEO of Cure Tech. Initially, the body tries to fight the invading cancer cells by developing special defense antibodies known as cytotoxic T-cells. But cancer is a hardy opponent, and the body's straightforward defense isn't always successful.

“Recent scientific evidence suggests that many types of cancer now are able to 'fool' the T-cells, effectively disabling them,” Schickler tells ISRAEL21c. The cancerous cells manage to pull off this deception by utilizing a natural “break” of the body's immune system, producing high levels of a protein called PD-L1, which interacts with a receptor called PD-1 on T-cells. The interaction induces the T-cells to self-destruct. By neutralizing the body's defenses, cancer cells can spread unchecked.

CureTech has developed an advanced antibody called CT-011, which interferes with a cancer cell's ability to fool T-cells. “CT-011 links with PD-1 on activated T-cells and blocks its interaction with PD-L1 on the tumor cells, thus preventing the formation of death signals in the T-cells,” says Schickler. The T-cells can then be at their fighting best.

CT-011 was invented by Dr. Brita Hardy and the late Dr. Abraham Novogrodsky of Tel Aviv University. “It belongs to a new class of anti-cancer therapies attempting to harness the body's immune system against the disease,” says Schickler. More than 400 patients have participated in seven studies with CT-011 to test its effectiveness against colon cancer, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia, and pancreatic cancer.

Says Schickler, “I have no doubt that our product will make a major contribution to efforts to fight many types of cancer.” For more information: www.curetechbio.com; +972-8-932-4000.

Source: Excerpts of an article by David Shamah, www.israel21c.org

Photo Credit: www.israel21c.org