A Powerful New Approach to Detect and Treat Pancreatic Cancer
A breakthrough theranostic innovation from Osaka University
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers worldwide, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Early diagnosis is difficult, and current treatments often fail to stop disease progression. But a research team from Osaka University has developed a groundbreaking method that could change how we diagnose and treat this deadly disease.
In their recent study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the scientists combined diagnosis and therapy into one integrated process—known as theranostics—to both detect and target pancreatic tumors more effectively.
What Is Theranostics?
The word “theranostics” comes from the combination of therapy and diagnostics. It describes a medical approach where the same molecule is used to first locate a tumor (diagnosis) and then destroy it (treatment).
In this case, the Osaka University team developed a radio-theranostic strategy that targets a protein called glypican-1 (GPC1), which is highly expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) but found only at very low levels in normal tissues.
“We decided to target GPC1 because it is overexpressed in PDAC but is only present in low levels in healthy tissues,” explains Dr. Tadashi Watabe, the study’s lead author.
How the Technique Works
The researchers used a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that specifically binds to GPC1. They then labeled the antibody with two different radioactive isotopes—each serving a different purpose:
Zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr) for PET imaging, to detect tumors early.
Astatine-211 (²¹¹At) for alpha therapy, to kill cancer cells precisely.
Using a mouse model implanted with human pancreatic tumor cells, the team administered these radiolabeled antibodies intravenously.
PET scans showed that ⁸⁹Zr-GPC1 mAb strongly accumulated inside the tumors, clearly visualizing them in the body. When GPC1 expression was blocked, the uptake was dramatically reduced—proving the antibody’s specificity.
Targeted Alpha Therapy Shows Promising Results
Next, the researchers tested ²¹¹At-GPC1 mAb, designed to deliver therapeutic alpha particles directly into tumor cells. The treatment caused DNA double-strand breaks in cancer cells and significantly slowed tumor growth in mice.
“Both radiolabeled versions of the GPC1 antibody produced encouraging results,” says Dr. Watabe. “⁸⁹Zr-GPC1 mAb allowed early and precise imaging, while ²¹¹At-GPC1 mAb provided a targeted therapy option for suppressing pancreatic tumor growth.”
Why This Discovery Matters
This study is an important step toward a personalized medicine approach for pancreatic cancer. By combining precise diagnosis with targeted treatment, theranostics could:
Detect pancreatic cancer earlier, when treatment is most effective.
Deliver localized therapy, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Improve overall survival rates and quality of life for patients.
If validated in clinical trials, this dual-function GPC1-targeting antibody could transform pancreatic cancer management—offering both a diagnostic imaging tool and a therapeutic agent within one molecule.
Looking Ahead
The Osaka University team’s research demonstrates the real potential of radioimmunotherapy and theranostic medicine in tackling one of the hardest-to-treat cancers. Future studies will focus on refining this method for human use and exploring its application in other cancer types that overexpress glypican-1.
Pancreatic cancer has long been considered a silent killer, often detected too late. This innovative theranostic approach may finally offer a way to find—and fight—it earlier and more effectively.
Reference
Watabe T, Kabayama K, Naka S, et al.
Immuno-PET and Targeted α-Therapy Using Anti–Glypican-1 Antibody Labeled with ⁸⁹Zr or ²¹¹At: A Theranostic Approach for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.
Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2023. DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.266313