In a revolutionary trial at King's College London, researchers are looking into a novel antibody treatment that uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. Traditionally, immunotherapy has used IgG antibodies to target cancer cells, but their efficacy has been limited in some individuals. Scientists are now looking into IgE antibodies, which activate the immune system in a variety of ways and may provide an alternative for patients who are resistant to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The study was led by Dr. Heather Bax and looked at how well IgE versions of existing IgG medicines could turn on immune cells and fight cancer cells that express the HER2 marker, a protein that is found in about 20% of breast and ovarian cancers. Unlike IgG antibodies, IgE antibodies activate inert immune cells in the tumour's microenvironment, reprogramming them to target cancer cells directly.

In preclinical tests on mice, IgE antibodies not only directed immune cells against cancer cells that expressed HER2, but they also slowed tumour growth by a large amount. These tumours were found to be resistant to traditional treatments, implying that IgE-based therapy may be a viable choice for individuals who do not respond to current treatments.

Furthermore, the study found that IgE antibodies successfully altered the immunological milieu surrounding the tumours. By changing the milieu from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory, the immune system was activated, allowing it to overcome the tumour's inherent defences and increase the overall onslaught on cancer cells.

The findings, published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) and funded by Breast Cancer Now, show promise for a new era in cancer treatment. Researchers predict that with further research and development, this IgE-based strategy will be ready for human usage within the next three to five years.

Dr. Heather Bax, Senior Author and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at King's College London's St. John's Institute of Dermatology, revealed that HER2 is expressed in approximately 20% of breast and ovarian malignancies. Our research shows that anti-HER2 IgE antibodies can change the immune microenvironment and target HER2-expressing cancers effectively, even ones that aren't responding to current treatments. Our findings suggest that IgE antibodies could be a novel treatment option for patients with HER2-expressing tumours.

Professor Sophia Karagiannis, of Translational Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy at King's College London, said that the study of IgE antibodies in different types of tumours showed that the immune system of humans stops cancer from spreading. The results of our most recent study show that IgE could be used to help the immune system fight solid tumours that are hard to treat. This new class of medications has the potential to benefit a variety of patient populations and opens a new frontier in the fight against cancer."

Dr. Kotryna Temcinaite, head of research communications and engagement at Breast Cancer Now, spoke on the study's potential impact: 

"This fascinating study could lead to much-needed new treatments for those with HER2-positive breast cancer who do not respond to current medicines. Now that we know the medication works in mice, researchers may continue to improve this immunotherapy to make it suitable for humans, as well as to understand the full effect it may have and who may benefit the most."

The study represents a significant advancement in the pursuit of better-focused, effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects. This new immunotherapy strategy, which takes advantage of the special characteristics of IgE antibodies, may offer hope to numerous individuals suffering from severe tumours that have previously defied traditional treatment approaches.