Sachdev Sidhu, PhD
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2019 Pilot Study Award
Research in Focus: Novel therapies to treat ovarian cancer
Targeting Ephrin receptors with antibody-drug conjugates to design novel treatments for ovarian cancer
Alterations in certain proteins located on the surface of cells, known as receptor proteins, can lead to the formation of tumors. These receptor proteins represent attractive targets for the development of new treatments. Dr. Sidhu and colleagues are investigating receptors of the EPH protein family as new targets for therapy as they are often deregulated in ovarian cancer, contributing to cancer development and metastasis. Dr. Sidhu and colleagues have done a comprehensive survey of ovarian cancer cells to determine which members of the EPH receptor family are present in ovarian cancer cells and identify the best ones to target when developing new treatment strategies. The goal of this study is to use protein engineering to design novel biological molecules called synthetic antibodies that bind to EPH receptors. These antibodies will bind ovarian cancer cells to deliver a “payload” of anti-cancer drugs inside the cancer cells. At the end of this study, Dr. Sidhu and colleagues will have generated candidate therapies that can be further tested in cellular and animal models, with the ultimate goal of designing more effective ovarian cancer therapies.