Genentech Oncology
Expanding on a heritage of groundbreaking monoclonal antibody development, we continue to investigate the potential of transforming the ability of antibodies into therapeutic agents against cancer, with a goal of creating new standards of care in areas of unmet need.
In the 1970s, through Nobel Prize-winning research by scientists at the Roche-funded Basel Institute for Immunology, the technology behind the generation of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies was discovered. This technology revolutionized biological research, ushering in a new age in oncology.1
Monoclonal antibodies are designed to selectively target and bind to antigens on tumor cells to induce tumor cell death. They are generated from identical cells that are cloned from a single parent cell and are therefore able to recognize and bind to a single target antigen that is preferentially expressed on tumor cells.2-4
Fab=fragment of antigen binding; Fc=fragment, crystallizable.
Some monoclonal antibodies are designed to kill cancer cells through Fc-mediated effector functions, such as:
These functions play an important role in the mechanistic properties of many therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.5-7
Upon binding to tumor antigens, antibodies emit a signal, marking these cells for immune attack. This attack signal is in part controlled by the presence of sugar molecules attached to the Fc region of the antibody. In the development of monoclonal antibodies, scientists are able to manipulate these sugar molecules through glycoengineering, which may enhance the affinity of the antibody for immune effector cells.2,8
In addition to living organisms, we use phage display technology to generate antigen-specific antibodies. Through this in vitro technology, DNA-encoded libraries of antibodies are generated, displaying a wide range of human antibody molecules on the surface of cultured cells. Subsequent selection and screening based on an antigen of choice toward this pool of cells lead to the isolation of high-affinity binders.9
Bispecific antibodies may be constructed by joining two identical light and heavy chains of two different monoclonal antibodies, creating two distinct antigen-binding sites (Fab regions) with a common Fc region. This structure allows simultaneous binding to T cells and selected tumor cell surface antigens, which redirects the cytotoxic activity of T cells to tumor cells, initiating an immune response. The Fc region in bispecific antibodies is engineered to be fully silent, which may prevent the activation of innate immune effector cells.10-13
Through ADC technology, highly potent cytotoxins are attached to monoclonal antibodies, enabling targeted delivery of the cytotoxins to malignant B cells or other tumor targets.14
We are investigating monoclonal antibodies, such as PD-L1 inhibitors, as single agents and in combination with other targeted strategies, such as VEGF inhibition.
Roche Research and Development. Monoclonal antibodies. https://www.roche.com/research_and_development/what_we_are_working_on/research_technologies/protein-related_technologies/monoclonal_antibodies.htm. Accessed December 19, 2019.
Roche Research and Development. Monoclonal antibodies. https://www.roche.com/research_and_development/what_we_are_working_on/research_technologies/protein-related_technologies/monoclonal_antibodies.htm. Accessed December 19, 2019.
Strome SE, Sausville EA, Mann D. A mechanistic perspective of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy beyond target-related effects. Oncologist. 2007;12:1084-1095. PMID: 17914078
Strome SE, Sausville EA, Mann D. A mechanistic perspective of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy beyond target-related effects. Oncologist. 2007;12:1084-1095. PMID: 17914078
Scott AM, Allison JP, Wolchok JD. Monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy. Cancer Immun. 2012;12:14. PMID: 22896759
Scott AM, Allison JP, Wolchok JD. Monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy. Cancer Immun. 2012;12:14. PMID: 22896759
Nelson PN, Reynolds GM, Waldron EE, Ward E, Giannopoulos K, Murray PG. Monoclonal antibodies. Mol Pathol. 2000;53:111-117. PMID: 10897328
Nelson PN, Reynolds GM, Waldron EE, Ward E, Giannopoulos K, Murray PG. Monoclonal antibodies. Mol Pathol. 2000;53:111-117. PMID: 10897328
Simpson A, Caballero O. Monoclonal antibodies for the therapy of cancer. BMC Proc. 2014. doi:10.1186/1753-6561-8-S4-O6.
Simpson A, Caballero O. Monoclonal antibodies for the therapy of cancer. BMC Proc. 2014. doi:10.1186/1753-6561-8-S4-O6.
Kamen LA, Kho E, Ordonia B, Langsdorf C, Chung S. A method for determining antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. J Immunol. 2017;198:157:17.
Kamen LA, Kho E, Ordonia B, Langsdorf C, Chung S. A method for determining antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. J Immunol. 2017;198:157:17.
Borrok MJ, Luheshi NM, Beyaz N, et al. Enhancement of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by endowing IgG with FcαRI (CD89) binding. MAbs. 2015;7:743-751. PMID: 25970007
Borrok MJ, Luheshi NM, Beyaz N, et al. Enhancement of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by endowing IgG with FcαRI (CD89) binding. MAbs. 2015;7:743-751. PMID: 25970007
Mazor Y, Yang C, Borrok MJ, et al. Enhancement of immune effector functions by modulating IgG's intrinsic affinity for target antigen. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0157788. PMID: 27322177
Mazor Y, Yang C, Borrok MJ, et al. Enhancement of immune effector functions by modulating IgG's intrinsic affinity for target antigen. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0157788. PMID: 27322177
Hammers CM, Stanley JR. Antibody phage display: technique and applications. J Invest Dermatol. 2014;134:1-5. PMID: 24424458
Hammers CM, Stanley JR. Antibody phage display: technique and applications. J Invest Dermatol. 2014;134:1-5. PMID: 24424458
Chames P, Baty D. Bispecific antibodies for cancer therapy: the light at the end of the tunnel? MAbs. 2009;1:539-547. PMID: 20073127
Chames P, Baty D. Bispecific antibodies for cancer therapy: the light at the end of the tunnel? MAbs. 2009;1:539-547. PMID: 20073127
Kontermann RE, Brinkmann U. Bispecific antibodies. Drug Discov Today. 2015;20:838-847. PMID: 25728220
Kontermann RE, Brinkmann U. Bispecific antibodies. Drug Discov Today. 2015;20:838-847. PMID: 25728220
Bacac M, Klein C, Umana P. Oncoimmunology. 2016;5:e1203498. PMID: 27622073
Bacac M, Klein C, Umana P. Oncoimmunology. 2016;5:e1203498. PMID: 27622073
Bacac M, Fauti T, Sam J, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2016;22:3286-3297. PMID: 26861458
Bacac M, Fauti T, Sam J, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2016;22:3286-3297. PMID: 26861458
Peters C, Brown S. Antibody-drug conjugates as novel anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. Biosci Rep. 2015. doi:10.1042/BSR20150089. PMID: 26182432
Peters C, Brown S. Antibody-drug conjugates as novel anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. Biosci Rep. 2015. doi:10.1042/BSR20150089. PMID: 26182432
Learn more about the importance of oncologic biomarkers and what they can tell you.
Learn more about how cancer avoids immune response.
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