Antibody phage display libraries: contributions to oncology

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Phage display technology, established in 1985, utilizes antibody libraries on phage surfaces for molecular recognition.
• This high-throughput screening method enables the identification of specific binders against diverse targets, including cancer cells and serum markers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of phage display technology in identifying tumor-targeting antibodies.
• To highlight antibodies used as probes for molecular imaging and in clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Screening of billions of random fusion antibodies against tumoral cells or soluble markers.
• Utilizing protein microarrays in conjunction with phage display for autoantibody identification in patient sera.

Main Results:

• Identification of numerous phage display-derived binders targeting key tumor markers and unknown tumoral antigens.
• Discovery of multiple antibody molecules targeting angiogenesis, with one (ramucirumab) progressing through extensive clinical trials.

Conclusions:

• Phage display is a powerful tool for discovering cancer-related antibodies, including diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
• Advancements in phage display methods facilitate the use of patient samples and the development of novel cancer therapies and imaging probes.