Discovered an antibody against brain cancer by an international team led by the University of Padua
10.09.2025
An international team of researchers led by Fabio Mammano, professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Padua and associate researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of the National Research Council (Cnr-Ibbc) Cnr, has developed a new experimental antibody called abEC1.1 that slows the progression of glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumor in adults, and reduces tumor-induced neuronal hyperactivity.
The study, published in "Cell Communication and Signaling," demonstrated that the treatment selectively blocks certain hemichannel connexins, reducing tumor cell migration and invasiveness, inhibiting the release of ATP and glutamate, and normalizing abnormal synaptic activity. Results show a significant reduction in tumor volume and increased survival in mouse models.
"This is the first time a therapeutic antibody has been shown to simultaneously counteract glioblastoma growth and the neuronal hyperactivity the tumor induces in surrounding tissues," explains Fabio Mammano. "This approach opens the door to new therapeutic strategies targeting not only tumor cells but also their pathological interactions with the brain environment."
And Daniela Marazziti, researcher at Cnr-Ibbc and co-author of the work, specifies, "With this study, we have clearly highlighted the importance of specifically counteracting the molecular components that activate and strengthen communication between tumor cells and the surrounding tissue, fueling the uncontrolled proliferation of glioblastoma."
The antibody was administered both as a purified protein and through gene therapy with AAV (adeno-associated virus) vectors, a method that could provide long-lasting therapeutic effects with a single administration. The study reinforces the idea that hemichannel connexins are a promising pharmacological target for glioblastoma treatment. This discovery opens new therapeutic strategies aimed not only at tumor cells but also at their interactions with the brain environment.
The technology is the subject of a patent co-owned by the University of Padua, the CNR, the University of Milan, and ShanghaiTech University. The research was conducted in collaboration with academic institutions in Italy and China and was funded by the Ministry of University and Research (PRIN), Cariparo Foundation, Giovanni Celeghin Foundation, ShanghaiTech University, and Umberto Veronesi Foundation.
