A research team at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital has published the first study in Korea demonstrating the effectiveness of dual antibody therapy. This breakthrough could revolutionize cancer treatment, offering a potential alternative to CAR-T cell therapy.

Dual Antibody Therapy: A New Hope for Cancer Patients

Dual antibody therapy is a cutting-edge immunotherapy that has garnered attention as a potential replacement for CAR-T cell therapy. While CAR-T therapy has proven effective, its lengthy production process, which involves extracting T cells from the patient's blood and manufacturing them into a treatment, poses a significant limitation.

This new research focuses on bispecific antibody therapy, a method that is simpler and faster to administer than existing antibody treatments or CAR-T therapy. The research team applied this treatment to patients who were unresponsive to previous treatments, demonstrating its efficacy and safety.

Groundbreaking Research Results

The research team, led by Professors Park Sung-soo, Min Chang-ki, and Choi Soo-in, published their findings in the international journal "Transplantation and Cellular Therapy." The study focused on multiple myeloma, a challenging-to-treat blood cancer.

The study compared the effects of dual antibody therapy with standard treatment in 142 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had not responded to previous treatments. The results showed that the dual antibody therapy group had a progression-free survival period about three times longer than the standard treatment group.

Safety and Efficacy

While all cancer treatments carry the risk of side effects, the dual antibody therapy showed similar levels of side effects to existing treatments, with most being manageable. Some patients experienced immune reactions, but most were mild. The therapy also demonstrated safety in Korean patients, with no significant differences in blood-related side effects compared to standard treatment. However, the research team emphasized the importance of managing the potential for infection during the treatment process.

A New Hope for Multiple Myeloma Patients

Professor Min Chang-ki expressed hope that this research will provide a new option for patients with multiple myeloma who have had difficulty with other treatments. Professor Park Sung-soo highlighted the significance of this study as the first to verify the effectiveness of dual antibody therapy in Korea.

The research team plans to continue their studies to determine the long-term effects of dual antibody therapy and optimize its use. This groundbreaking research offers a new beacon of hope in the fight against cancer, particularly for those with challenging-to-treat conditions like multiple myeloma.