Promising immunotherapy Treat cancer with the body's own antibodies

IgE antibodies can destroy cancerous tumors

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) may be well known to most people with allergies because these antibodies play a major role in allergic reactions. The IgE antibodies, which are actually used to ward off dangerous substances foreign to the body, are directed against harmless substances by allergic persons and the allergic reaction follows. Scientists have now been able to use the IgE antibodies targeted against cancer tumors and successfully kill the tumors in 60 percent of cases.

According to the current study, the antibodies could also be used for cancer therapy. In experiments on dogs, researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna and MedUni Vienna showed that IgE can be used for immunotherapy in cancer. "In in vitro studies, the tumor was destroyed by the IgE antibody in more than 60 percent of the cases," report study leader Erika Jensen-Jarolim and colleagues. The researchers published their study results in the journal "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology".

Special IgE antibodies developed

In the development of allergies, the reaction of the body's own immunoglobulin E "pointless", as it is in interaction with inflammatory cells against harmless antigens, explain the scientists. This causes serious allergies. "In the current study, our motto is against it: give the IgE a sense," study director Erika Jensen-Jarolim further. Here, the researchers developed a special "canine IgE", which is directly directed against the EGFR growth factor of cancerous tumors.

60 percent of treatments successful

In experiments on a dog as a "model patient", the researchers were able to show that in tumors that have the EGFR growth factor, a successful elimination of cancer cells by immunoglobulin E is possible - regardless of the breed. In more than 60 percent of the cases, the IgE antibody destroyed the tumors. This result is also so promising because the EGFR in the dog 92 percent with that in humans agrees, the researchers emphasize.

Immunotherapy for cancer tumors

According to the scientists, the IgE antibodies form, as it were, a "bridge" between the EGFR on tumor cells and the inflammatory cells, releasing so-called tumor necrosis factors that prompt the onset of tumors. "That makes us hope that we are making an important contribution to a new form of immunotherapy for cancer tumors"; emphasizes the study director. Now, the results in further studies on dogs are to be checked before first investigations on humans follow.

Cancer researchers are currently hoping for so-called immunotherapies, which use the body's own defense mechanisms to combat cancer cells. The successful use of IgE antibodies is a good example of these new opportunities in cancer therapy. (Fp)