School of Biomedical Sciences cordially invites you to join the following Post-doctoral Fellow (PDF) Seminar:

Date: 18 February 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Host: Dr. Haifeng Fu

Light refreshments will be served. Please register via the below link by 17 February 2025 (Monday):
Registration: https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3PJNE0zLy5rwJYG

Development of a humanized anti-ANXA3 monoclonal antibody for potential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
Dr. Ianto Bosheng Huang (Post-doctoral Fellow)
[Supervisor: Professor Stephanie Ma]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant form of primary liver cancer. It ranks the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally, with high incidence and mortality in Southeast Asia. The majority of HCC patients who are diagnosed at intermediate to advanced stages face the reality of limited treatment options, frequent tumor recurrence, and resistance to standard therapies. Our previous studies demonstrate that endogenous and circulating annexin A3 (ANXA3) promotes self-renewal, tumor growth, and resistance to standard chemotherapy and targeted therapy in HCC, thus potentially offering a new target for HCC treatment. Herein, a humanized anti-ANXA3 monoclonal antibody was developed and extensively characterized for its therapeutic efficacy utilizing both in vitro and in vivo HCC models. The use of humanized antibodies is more clinically relevant than non-humanized counterparts because of their reduced risk of triggering immune responses in human patients. In the era of precision medicine, there is a growing emphasis on tailor-made treatment that considers personal genetic differences or environmental conditions. With advances in technology enabling the rapid detection of ANXA3 expression in an individual, the potential use of a humanized anti-ANXA3 antibody alone or in combination with other approved therapeutics represents a meaningful step forward to improving therapeutic outcomes of HCC patients with ANXA3 upregulation. Moreover, this study also explored the potential of generalizing the use of the humanized anti-ANXA3 monoclonal antibody to multiple malignancies with ANXA3 overexpression.

All are welcome.