Prestige Biologics publishes study on pancreatic cancer target PAUF

Prestige Biologics said Tuesday that it has published a research paper in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, an SCIE journal, on the target protein PAUF (Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Upregulated Factor) of its pancreatic cancer antibody therapeutic candidate PBP1510.

The study suggests that PAUF may not just act on cancer cells but also regulate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment to promote pancreatic cancer progression. PAUF, a factor known to be overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, has a mechanism to suppress anticancer immunity by inducing differentiation into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), suggesting that it may be an important target for cancer therapy.

Normally, the immune system recognizes and attacks cancer cells, but certain immunosuppressors in the tumor microenvironment can interfere with the immune response and promote cancer growth.

The researchers explained that by identifying how PAUF promotes the migration of monocytes and their differentiation into TAMs, PBP1510 shows promise as a therapeutic agent that can inhibit immunosuppressive mechanisms and activate anticancer immunity.

“This study confirms that PAUF is a key factor involved in the activation of immunosuppressors,” the Prestige Biologics researchers said/ “We will accelerate the development of new antibody drugs for pancreatic cancer based on the efficacy of PBP1510.”

PBP1510 targets the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer based on the PAUF biomarker and is in phase 1/2a clinical trials in Spain and the United States.