The treatment of the brain tumour glioblastoma (GBM): the efficacy of immunotoxin derived from anti-calcitonin receptor antibodies
-
Dr
Peter J Wookey+61 3 9496 3584
Project Details
Underlying the incurable nature of GBM is the invasive potential of glioma stem cells (GSCs, cancer stem cells). Over 40% of GSCs express CT Receptor and ~80% of patient biopsies contain malignant glioma cells that express CT Receptor. Anti- CT Receptor antibody has been conjugated to a plant toxin to form a potent immunotoxin. Animal trials are underway with the immunotoxin to collect data for proof of concept prior to clinical trials for treatment of GBM.
Our group discovered the expression of calcitonin receptor in the deadly brain tumour GBM, which was published in 2012. This project has been developed by collaboration between neurosurgeons at the Alfred, pharmacologists at Monash University and at the Charité UniversitätMedizin, Berlin. Extending the data packs from the treatment of animal models using our immunotoxin and configurational refinements is a current focus. Our collaboration was awarded an inaugural seed grant by the Berlin Universities - University of Melbourne Alliance in 2019 to explore the efficacy of an immunotoxin for potential treatment. We are included in a large international (EU, UK, US, AUS) consortium applying for a grant from Grand Cancer Challenges.
Researchers
- Dr Peter Wookey
- Pragya Gupta – PhD student