SubB2M Pan-Cancer Probe

Pan-cancer probe for Neu5Gc

INOVIQ has the exclusive worldwide license for SubB2M - an engineered protein that binds to a unique sugar molecule called Neu5Gc which is only present in human cancers.

In initial clinical studies, SubB2M has detected cancers with 100% sensitivity and specificity for mid to late-stage cancers, and >95% specificity and 100% sensitivity for early-stage cancers. There is also evidence that Neu5Gc is present in a wide range of solid human tumors and can be detected in serum using SubB2M.

SubB2M has the potential to detect cancer using liquid biopsies, immunoassays, circulating tumor cell assays and PET imaging.

Background

Elevated levels of the Neu5Gc sugar molecule have been observed in tumours, including breast, ovarian, prostate, colon, and lung[1] and pancreatic[2] and endometrial cancers. The presence of Neu5Gc is prognostically important, and correlates with invasiveness, metastasis and tumour grade. As a result, Neu5Gc has been proposed as a tumour antigen, and its detection in human serum and other bodily fluids could be utilised as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in a range of human cancers.

INOVIQ’s SubB2M technology

While there are analytical methods available and a commercially available IgY antibody for the detection of Neu5Gc, researchers at the University of Adelaide engineered (and patented) the B subunit of the bacterial toxin SubAB (which binds to Neu5Gc), to reduce the recognition of Neu5Ac and broaden the recognition of Neu5Gc. This improved Neu5Gc-specific lectin was termed SubB2M. Its enhanced sensitivity and specificity for Neu5Gc has been demonstrated in complex biological samples. SubB2M therefore offers a potential new tool for the testing of serum and other bodily fluids from individuals with, or suspected of having cancer.

INOVIQ’s Initial focus is on developing SubB2M immunoassays for monitoring of breast and ovarian cancers.