CD19?a new target for antibody-based therapies

For the past two decades, researchers have been exploring B-cell specific antigens in hopes of developing a new anticancer target that would mirror the success of the CD20-targeting rituximab (Rituxan). Nowstrategies aimed at CD19 are proving particularly promising.

CD19 is serving as the target not only of antibody-based therapies but also in a potentially paradigm-altering approach to cancer immunotherapy that continues to yield impressive clinical outcomes. The complexities of developing CD19-targeting immunotherapy were highlighted recently when several clinical trials were suspended for a safety review in response to the deaths of two patients during a study.

CD19 plays a critical role in establishing an optimal immune response by regulating both B-cell receptor (BCR)- dependent and BCR–independent signaling pathways. It regulates both antigen-independent development and immunoglobulin- induced activation of B cells. CD19 makes an attractive target for cancer therapy since its expression on normal cells is limited to those of B-cell lineage. Furthermore, it is expressed on the vast majority of B-cell malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs), B-cell lymphomas, B-cell leukemias.

CD19 is a suitable tumor-associated antigen (TAA) against which to target anticancer agents. In contrast to CD20, CD19 is expressed throughout B-cell development, from B-cell precursors screening compounds through to mature B cells, before expression is lost when they become plasma cells. This wider range of expression potentially gives CD19-targeted agents an advantage over their CD20 counterparts, since they could be more useful in treating early B-cell neoplasms like ALL, which cannot be treated with rituximab.

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced results from a Phase I open-label study that showed the investigational cancer immunotherapy MPDL3280A (anti-PDL1) shrank tumors (overall response rate) in 43 percent (13/30) of people previously treated for metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) whose tumors were characterized as PD-L1 (Programmed Death Ligand-1) positive by a test being developed by Roche. Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with what has been previously reported for MPDL3280A. There were no severe (Grade 4-5) treatment-related AEs.

The FDA has granted MPDL3280A Breakthrough Therapy Designation. This designation is designed to expedite the development Everolimus and review of medicines intended to treat serious diseases and to help ensure patients have access to them through FDA approval as soon as possible.

"Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide, for which there have been no new treatment advances in nearly 30 years, so we are pleased the FDA has granted breakthrough designation for MPDL3280A in metastatic bladder cancer," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We are evaluating MPDL3280A in a broad range of tumors, and have begun pivotal studies that include a companion diagnostic test in lung and bladder cancers."

Numerologist Warda is hooked on OG-L002 fishing, collecting. And lastly her encouragement comes from socializing along with her companions.