S’pore scientists developing treatment to target fluid that fuels cancer in abdominal lining
The team is confident that the first phase of a human clinical trial will be in five years.
Singaporean scientists have created an experimental treatment targeting a fluid that fuels cancer in the abdominal lining, bringing them closer to improving the survival rate which currently stands under nine months. Peritoneal cancer, a late-stage condition where cancer spreads to the abdominal lining from primary sites like the stomach, colon, breast or ovaries, is studied by the team at Singapore General Hospital and National Cancer Centre Singapore.
The researchers developed a novel nanobody, a lab-engineered antibody, that could slow the growth of tumors in animal models and human tissue samples with mild side effects. By blocking two proteins found in an abnormal buildup of abdominal fluid called ascites, the nanobody prevents tumour growth in the lining. Johnny Ong, the study's senior author, explained that peritoneal cancer affects 40% of gastric cancer, 30% of colorectal cancer, and 70% of ovarian cancer cases globally, with over 1.2 million cases diagnosed annually.
Although HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) is the best treatment currently available, only 10% of patients are suitable for this method. The scientists focused on the abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen, discovering that it contains molecular substances that cancer cells rely on to survive. Identifying two proteins, PAI-1 and S100A10, as key drivers of tumour development in the ascites, the team created a nanobody to target these proteins.
When tested across three model systems, the nanobody effectively suppressed tumour growth with minimal toxicity. Retired accountant Yeow Ser Kiang, diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 2017, has donated her ascites for the second phase of the research, aimed at clinical-grade development and a first-in-human clinical trial.
Ong hopes that this research will ultimately lead to better treatment options and hope for patients facing this difficult condition, with the first phase of clinical trials expected within the next five years.
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