Circulating tumorcells as a biomarker of efficacy in HuMax-IL8 treatment
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 730 290 |
| Project duration | July 2014 - January 2015 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The purpose of the study was to show in a pre-clinical model that treatment with HuMax-IL8 could inhibit tumor spread. The purpose was also to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood and to see if this could be reduced by the treatment with our drug candidate HuMax-IL8. These results were then to be turned into a patent application for a companion diagnostic to be used to guide the use of HuMax-IL8 in treating cancer patients.
Results and expected effects
We could show that treatment with HuMax-IL8 reduced the growth of the tumor in an aggressive breast cancer tumor model in mice. Moreover, we were able to use determination of CTCs in blood as a means to show that treatment with HuMax-IL8 leads to reduction in CTCs. It has already been shown that CTC numbers correlate with long term outcomes for patients. Our aim is next to show that by treating cancer patients we can reduce the numbers of CTCs and that this eventually translates into better outcomes.
Approach and implementation
The study was performed in a well known but slightly modified pre-clinical breast cancer model. The cancer cell line used was enriched for CD44+ cells, i.e. the cancer stem cells, which resulted in a more aggressive growth and spread of the tumors. This meant it was easier to measure and show an effect on tumor spread through the measurement of CTCs. The positive outcome of the study made it possible to file a patent application for a companion diagnostic. It also lay the ground for the phase I clinical trial that has been started with HuMax-IL8.