Blinatumomab is a drug that has anti-cancer

Cancer

Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 properties. It belongs to a new class of constructed monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are monospecific antibodies that are the same because they are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell....

, bi-specific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), that exert action selectively and direct the human immune system to act against tumor cells. Blinatumomab specifically targets the CD19

CD19

B-lymphocyte antigen CD19 also known as CD19 , is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD19 gene.- Function :...

 antigen present on B cell

B cell

B cells are lymphocytes that play a large role in the humoral immune response . The principal functions of B cells are to make antibodies against antigens, perform the role of antigen-presenting cells and eventually develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction...

s.

The drug was developed by a German-American company Micromet, Inc. in cooperation with MedImmune

MedImmune

MedImmune, LLC, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, became a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca in 2007. Since being acquired, MedImmune has remained a Maryland-based biotechnology development enterprise...

.

Structure and mechanism of action

Blinatumomab enables a patient's T cells to recognize malign B cells. A molecule of blinatumomab combines two binding sites: a CD3 site for T cells and a CD19

CD19

B-lymphocyte antigen CD19 also known as CD19 , is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD19 gene.- Function :...

 site for the target B cells. CD3 is part of the T cell receptor

T cell receptor

The T cell receptor or TCR is a molecule found on the surface of T lymphocytes that is responsible for recognizing antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex molecules...

. The drug works by linking these two cell types and activating the T cell to exert cytotoxic activity on the target cell.

Clinical trials

In a phase 1 clinical study with blinatumomab, patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma showed tumor regression

Regression (medicine)

Regression in medicine is a characteristic of diseases to show lighter symptoms without completely disappearing. At a later point, symptoms may return. These symptoms are then called recidive....

, and in some cases complete remission. There are ongoing phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials of blinatumomab in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts.Malignant, immature white blood cells continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. ALL causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells in the bone...

 (ALL), lung

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...

 or gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal cancer refers to malignant conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, biliary system, pancreas, bowels, and anus. The symptoms relate to the organ affected, and can include obstruction , abnormal bleeding, or other associated problems...

s. One phase II trial for ALL reported good results in 2010 and another is starting.

External links

• Clinical trials of blinatumomab