Cancer Therapeutic to Improve Treatment of Obese Patients

Targets an Angiogenic Protein to Inhibit Obesity-Induced Tumor Progression,

This cancer therapy delivers antibodies that neutralize a protein known to drive disease progression in obese cancer patients. Obesity correlates with lower survival rates and worse treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients. Standard therapies to treat breast and other cancers are often ineffective for obese patients due to inadequate dosing, surgical challenges, and therapeutic delivery complications. Available options do not specifically target the ways obesity drives cancer progression, leading to unsuccessful treatment.

Researchers at the University of Florida have identified the protein ANGPTL4 as a key driver in tumor progression under obese conditions. Targeting ANGPTL4 with neutralizing antibodies results in decreased angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor growth in vivo.

Application

Antibodies that inhibit tumor progression in obese breast cancer patients

Advantages

• Neutralizes a key driver of obesity-induced tumor growth, improving treatment for many breast cancer patients
• Prevents new blood vessel formation without directly attacking cancer cells, working well with other therapies
• Reduces elevated levels of angiogenesis, potentially treating various other obesity-related cancer types

Technology Detail

Five monoclonal antibodies reduce high levels of ANGPTL4, an angiogenic factor upregulated in obese patients. Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels form, which facilitate delivery of nutrients to cancerous cells. Treatment with a neutralizing antibody completely blocks ANGPTL4-induced angiogenesis in vivo, thereby inhibiting obesity-driven breast cancer progression.