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New Therapy Approach for Skin Lymphomas
Researchers from Berlin-Brandenburg and Vienna have made an important breakthrough in the treatment of skin lymphomas. They have identified the protein CD74 as a potential target for new therapies against cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). In a recently published study in the British Journal of Dermatology, they demonstrate how targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) could help effectively kill cancer cells.
What is Skin Lymphoma?
Skin lymphomas are a rare type of blood cancer that primarily affects the skin. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) occurs in Europe at a rate of about 0.5 per 100,000 people per year. Especially the advanced stages of the disease have a poor prognosis and significantly impair the quality of life for those affected.
The Researchers' Innovative Approach
MedUni Vienna, Charité Berlin, and the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin have now developed an innovative approach. They investigated the protein CD74, which appears on the surface of cancer cells in many CTCL subtypes. Their findings indicate that CD74 could be a new target for therapies. Antibody-drug conjugates that specifically bind to CD74 have the potential to selectively destroy CTCL cells.
What Are Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)?
Antibody-drug conjugates are specialized medications made up of an antibody and a toxic drug. The antibody recognizes and binds to specific surface molecules on cancer cells, allowing the drug to be delivered directly into the cell to kill it. This type of therapy could increase the precision of treatment while sparing healthy cells.
Results and Outlook
The study results are promising: the antibody-drug conjugates were not only able to destroy CTCL cells but also demonstrated high effectiveness in models with TP53-defective cells—an especially challenging type of cell. This is a significant step, as many conventional therapies fail with these cells.
This discovery paves the way for future clinical trials that could revolutionize the treatment of skin lymphomas. The new therapeutic approach could offer life-changing improvements for patients who currently have limited treatment options.
Conclusion
The identification of CD74 as a target for innovative antibody therapies brings new hope for the treatment of skin lymphomas. For patients affected by this condition, this could be a major step toward more effective and less burdensome treatments. Scientists are now working to further develop this therapy and test it in clinical trials.
Source: Science article MDC “New treatment approach for rare blood cancer of the skin”, March 5, 2025
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