Designer molecules

A new class of synthetic molecules developed by scientists at Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut) enhance the ability of the body’s immune system to recognize prostate cancer cells, and might lead to a new therapeutic approach for this disease.

These antibody-recruiting molecules targeting prostate cancer (ARM-Ps) were designed to bind to antibodies that are present in the blood and at the same time to proteins on cancer cells. By covering the diseased cells with antibodies, the molecules “mark” them as a threat and trigger the body’s immune system in response. Contrary to some other current treatments, ARM-Ps are relatively simple and inexpensive to produce and may have fewer side effects, because they do not target essential biological processes.

The same type of antibody-recruiting molecules are being tested to work on cells that are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV (these are called ARM-H).