| Project Detail |
Novel colorectal cancer targeted treatment
In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, a layer of mucus rich in glycosylated proteins known as mucins ensures lubrication for the passage of food and protection against commensal and pathogenic microorgansims. Emerging evidence shows that colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is often associated with an overexpression of mucins. This strengthens the natural barrier of the GI tract and impedes the accessibility of anti-cancer therapies. Funded by the European Research Council, the MUC-BITE project proposes a novel therapeutic strategy against CRC based on the enzyme mucinase, which degrades the mucin barrier. Researchers will conjugate mucinase with a nanobody that selectively targets CRC tumour. The project will validate the technical and commercial feasibility of this innovative strategy that has shown promising pre-clinical data.
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women and men. CRC can be broadly subdivided into adenocarcinoma-type and mucinous-type CRC, characterised by an overproduction of mucin proteins which is the primary component of mucus. These mucins form a physical barrier that impedes the accessibility of current CRC therapies to their target receptors, limiting what would otherwise be promising cancer drugs.
Dr. Karin Strijbis group has discovered a compelling mucinase enzyme that can effectively degrade the mucin barrier. Preliminary research performed by Dr. Strijbis group revealed this mucinases therapeutic potential to enhance the effectivity of approved anti-CRC drugs (i.e. anti-EGFR antibodies and small molecule inhibitors) by demonstrating the removal of obstructive mucin proteins and a decrease in CRC cell proliferation.
In MUC-BITE, we present Nano-MUCase, a novel biological based on the conjugation of this mucinase with a nanobody to selectively target CRC tumours for optimal delivery and removal of the mucin barrier. During this PoC project, we will determine the technical and commercial feasibility Nano-MUCase through the following activities:
1. Validate the capabilities of the Nano-MUCase to target CRC tumours and reduce mucin interference of anti-CRC drugs in organoid samples and in vivo.
2. Define an IP strategy by performing a thorough IP landscape and patentability analysis.
3. Conduct market research to discover potential customers/industrial partners, analyse competitors and identify a feasible roadmap to commercialisation.
4. Formulate a detailed business case to guide the commercialisation of the Nano-MUCase to penetrate the market and deliver a new therapeutic strategy to benefit CRC patients. |
