Considerations and challenges guiding target selection in the development of antibody-based therapeutics for cancer
23 Sep 2024
Target Selection
- Target Specificity and Expression: Ensuring the specificity of the target to cancer cells, minimizing the impact on healthy tissues, and understanding the expression patterns of potential targets across different cancer types and normal tissues.
- Antigen Accessibility: The tumor microenvironment can significantly influence the accessibility and effectiveness of antibody-based therapies. Factors such as the presence of stromal cells, extracellular matrix components, and hypoxic conditions must be considered to ensure that the therapeutic antibodies can reach and bind to their intended targets effectively.
- Resistance Mechanisms and Tumor Heterogeneity: Cancer cells often develop resistance to therapies, and this is compounded by the heterogeneity within and between tumors. Selecting targets that can address or bypass resistance mechanisms, and developing strategies to overcome tumor heterogeneity, are crucial for the long-term efficacy of antibody-based treatments.
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