Antibody Generation from Resistant Tumor Homogenate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for generating antibodies, particularly monoclonal antibodies, are limited in addressing resistance mechanisms developed by tumors after anti-tumoral treatments, as they rely on known antigens and do not effectively target antigens expressed by resistant tumors.

Innovation Solution

The use of a milled homogenate or suspension from resistant tumors to immunize animals, generating antibodies that recognize antigens specifically expressed on resistant tumor cells but not on native tumor cells, potentially involved in treatment resistance, through a process involving tolerization and differential immunohistochemistry screening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional antibody generation methods using known antigens are used, then the antibody generation process is straightforward and reliable, but the antibodies cannot target antigens expressed by resistant tumors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to target resistant tumor antigensVSAvoidcomplexity of immunization and screening process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using known antigens from native tumors to generate antibodies, the invention inverts the approach by using antigens from resistant tumors as the immunization source. This allows the generated antibodies to specifically recognize and bind to resistance-associated antigens that are not targeted by conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary tolerization of the immune system using native tumor antigens before immunization with resistant tumor antigens. This preliminary action prevents the immune system from rejecting the resistant tumor antigens while still enabling specific antibody generation against resistance-associated epitopes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If antibodies are generated against all tumor antigens, then broad recognition is achieved, but specificity for resistance-associated antigens is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecificity for resistance-associated antigensVSAvoidcomplexity of differential screening process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screening process is segmented into two distinct stages: first screening for antibodies that recognize resistant tumor antigens, then secondarily screening to exclude antibodies that also recognize native tumor antigens. This segmentation enables precise identification of antibodies with specific binding to resistance-associated antigens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The differential screening process provides feedback by comparing antibody binding to both native and resistant tumors. Antibodies showing binding to native tumors are excluded, while those binding only to resistant tumors are selected, ensuring high specificity for resistance-associated antigens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2491945B9Method for generating active antibodies against a resistance antigen, antibodies obtained by said method and their uses
Publication Date: 2017.03.08 PIERRE FABRE MEDICAMENT SAS
  • EP2491945B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2491945B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2491945B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to the use of a milled homogenate and/or a suspension and/or a cell lysate, stemming from a tumor resistant to at least one antitumoral compound in order to immunize and generate in vitro an antibody, or one of its functional fragments, directed against a tumoral antigen specifically expressed at the surface of said resistant tumor and being possibly involved in the resistance of said resistant tumor. More particularly, the present invention is directed to such antibodies obtained by applying the method, such as the antibodies 1A6, 1A9, 2E11, 3C11 and 3G7, as well as to their use for treating cancer.