Heavy Chain Only Antibodies: A New Paradigm in Personalized HER2+ Breast Cancer Therapy

Seyed Moein Moghimi1, Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh, Davoud Ahmadvand

  • 1Nanomedicine Research Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark ; NanoScience Centre, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.

Bioimpacts : BI
|May 17, 2013
PubMed

Unlike conventional antibodies, heavy chain only antibodies derived from camel contain a single variable domain (VHH) and two constant domains (CH2 and CH3). Cloned and isolated VHHs possess unique properties that enable them to excel conventional therapeutic antibodies and their smaller antigen-binding fragments in cancer targeting and therapy. VHHs express low immunogenicity, are highly robust and easy to manufacture and have the ability to recognize hidden or uncommon epitopes. We highlight the utility of VHH in design of new molecular, multifunctional particulate and immune cell-based systems for combating HER2+ breast cancer.

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