Trabedersen
Mode of Action of Trabedersen in Tumor Therapy
Malignant brain tumors (high-grade glioma), pancreatic cancer and malignant melanoma are among the most aggressive tumors known. Antisense Pharma is vigorously developing its medication trabedersen (AP 12009), with the aim to meet the unmet medical need for effective and well-tolerated therapies to treat these tumors.
Trabedersen is a DNA-oligonucleotide that inhibits the synthesis of the cytokine transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-ß2) at the molecular level. It binds specifically to its messenger RNA, thereby preventing translation into the protein TGF-ß2.
TGF-ß2 is overexpressed in many highly aggressive tumors. It is a key cancerogenic protein which is decisive for explosive tumor proliferation and aggressive metastasizing of tumors.
A main characteristic of TGF-ß2 is its ability to suppress the body’s own immune system. Expressed simply, TGF-ß2 forms a protective shield around the tumor. The consequence is that the body’s immune cells cannot recognize tumor cells as such and thus cannot eliminate them.
Trabedersen inhibits the formation of TGF-ß2, enabling the body’s immune system to recover its ability to recognize the tumor, leading to long-lasting inhibition of tumor growth and formation of metastasis.
- Tumors produce excessive amounts of the cancerogenic protein TGF-beta 2 (TGF-β2). TGF-β2 generates a shield around the tumor, protecting it from an attack by the body’s own immune cells. At the same time, TGF-β2 also promotes the spread of tumor cells throughout the body (formation of metastasis).
- Trabedersen specifically inhibits the formation of TGF-β2, resulting in the breakdown of the TGF-β2 protective shield around the tumor. The body’s own immune cells can now recognize the tumor, penetrate it and destroy the tumor cells. At the same time, the spread of tumor cells throughout the body (formation of metastasis) is prevented.
