Novel Antibody Directed at Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

By Anna Azvolinsky, PhD¹ | April 3, 2013

¹Freelance Science Writer and Cancer Network Contributor.

Researchers have identified a novel monoclonal antibody directly targeted against a receptor found in abundance on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, but not normal B cells. The humanized antibody can directly kill CLL cells, according to Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and deputy director for research at the University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center, and colleagues. The results of the study are published in the online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In contrast to normal B cells, CLL cells express a high level of CD44, a cell-surface glycoprotein receptor. CD44 is thought to mediate one of the important survival signals for leukemia cells. CLL cells receive survival signals from its tumor environment, including cells that are present in the lymph nodes and the bone marrow of CLL patients. Previous work from Kipps and colleagues has shown that CLL cells can undergo drug-induced or spontaneous cell death when removed from a patient and cultured in the laboratory. Because the RG7356 antibody induces cell death of the CLL cells by binding to CD44, the drug is a potential new therapy for treatment of at least a subset of CLL patients.