Domestic researchers developed a method to dramatically increase the treatment effect for pancreatic cancer by targeting a protein called mesothelin (MSLN).
The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced on the 12th that a research team led by Director Jeong Joo-yeon of the Bio-Nano Research Center confirmed that a new pancreatic cancer treatment developed from their research suppressed cancer cell growth by over 80% in experiments on mice. The research results were published in the international journal "Molecular Cancer" in April.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal solid tumors. Early detection is difficult, and the recurrence rate after treatment is high, so most patients are diagnosed at an advanced (stage IV) stage, and the overall five-year survival rate remains below 10%. The effectiveness of existing treatment methods such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy is also limited.
To treat pancreatic cancer, it is crucial to accurately target only the cancer cells. This is how to enhance the treatment effect and reduce side effects such as toxicity to normal cells.
Mesothelin is a protein that is overexpressed not only in pancreatic cancer but also in various solid tumors such as ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. It is assessed as a tumor-specific antigen found primarily in cancer cells, as it is hardly expressed in normal tissues. Mesothelin is involved in processes such as cancer cell adhesion, invasion, and migration.
The research team developed a substance that specifically binds to mesothelin by using small antibodies called "nanobodies" derived from the antibodies of special animals like camels or llamas. Llama antibodies are only a quarter the length and one-tenth the weight of human antibodies.
The researchers added a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) containing an anticancer drug called gemcitabine to the "D3 nanobody," which has the best performance. Lipid nanoparticles are well known for encapsulating messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in COVID-19 vaccines.
When the final synthesized treatment was administered to mice with pancreatic cancer, cancer cell growth was suppressed by over 80%. It had almost no effect on normal tissues. The researchers described the nanobody as a type of "smart drug delivery vehicle" that selectively binds to cancer cells and delivers the anticancer drug contained in the lipid nanoparticle.
Director Jeong Joo-yeon noted, "This research presents a new treatment strategy for refractory solid tumors through the integration of nanobody technology and drug delivery platforms," and added, "We will accelerate follow-up research and clinical applications to lead to patient-customized treatments not only for pancreatic cancer but also for various cancer types."
References
Molecular Cancer(2025), DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02325-7