The glypican-3 (GPC3) antibody targets GPC3. a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan anchored to the plasma membrane. GPC3 is part of the glypican family, which regulates cellular signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, Hedgehog, YAP) during embryonic development. While minimally expressed in healthy adult tissues, GPC3 is overexpressed in several cancers, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant melanoma, and ovarian cancer, making it a promising tumor biomarker and therapeutic target.
GPC3 antibodies have emerged as critical tools in cancer diagnostics and therapy. In diagnostics, they enable immunohistochemical detection of GPC3 in tumor biopsies or liquid biopsies, aiding HCC differentiation from benign liver conditions. Therapeutically, GPC3 antibodies are engineered into antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, or CAR-T cell therapies. For instance, codrituzumab (an anti-GPC3 monoclonal antibody) and YP7 (an ADC) have shown preclinical efficacy by delivering cytotoxic agents directly to GPC3-positive tumors. CAR-T cells targeting GPC3 have demonstrated antitumor activity in early-phase clinical trials for HCC.
Challenges include tumor heterogeneity in GPC3 expression and potential off-target effects. Ongoing research focuses on optimizing antibody affinity, developing combination therapies (e.g., with immune checkpoint inhibitors), and exploring novel formats like nanobodies to enhance tumor penetration. Overall, GPC3 antibodies represent a versatile platform for precision oncology, with continued advancements expected to improve cancer detection and treatment outcomes.