Reviving a Classic Antigen with a Cutting-Edge Approach: Nanobodies for HER2+ Breast Cancer

The serendipitous discovery of nanobodies (NBs) around two decades ago opened the door to new possibilities for innovative strategies, particularly in cancer treatment. These antigen-binding fragments are derived from heavy-chain-only antibodies naturally found in the serum of camelids and sharks. NBs are an appealing agent for the progress of innovative therapeutic strategies because they combine the advantageous assets of smaller molecules and conventional monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Moreover, the possibility to produce NBs using bacterial systems reduces manufacturing expenses and speeds up the production process, making them a feasible option for the development of new bio-drugs. Several NBs have been developed over the past 10 years and are currently being tested in clinical trials for various human targets. Here, we provide an overview of the notable structural and biochemical characteristics of NBs, particularly in their application against HER2, an extracellular receptor that often gets aberrantly activated during breast cancer tumorigenesis. The focus is on the recent advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic research up to the present date.

Automated summary

The serendipitous discovery of nanobodies has opened up new possibilities in cancer treatment. Derived from camelids and sharks, nanobodies combine the advantages of smaller molecules and conventional monoclonal antibodies. With their production using bacterial systems, nanobodies offer a cost-effective and efficient approach to the development of new bio-drugs. Recent advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic research have focused on the application of nanobodies against HER2, an extracellular receptor commonly activated in breast cancer tumorigenesis.