Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer

Abstract Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the colon or rectum, with approximately 150,000 new cases each year. Current treatment strategies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, face challenges ranging from cancer recurrence, drug resistance to significant toxicit...

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Main Authors: Ying Zhang, Jing Du, Xiaohong Cui, Yuhang Ling, Chengwu Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:Cell Death Discovery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02652-0
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author Ying Zhang
Jing Du
Xiaohong Cui
Yuhang Ling
Chengwu Tang
author_facet Ying Zhang
Jing Du
Xiaohong Cui
Yuhang Ling
Chengwu Tang
author_sort Ying Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the colon or rectum, with approximately 150,000 new cases each year. Current treatment strategies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, face challenges ranging from cancer recurrence, drug resistance to significant toxicity. Therefore, these patients urgently need more effective treatments. Ferroptosis, a novel form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a promising new approach for treating colorectal cancer. Inactivation of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) or the cysteine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 leads to the depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH), resulting in lipid peroxidation and subsequent ferroptosis. Here, we found that CDH17 and GUCY2C are co-overexpressed in colorectal cancer cells and developed a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (BsADC) targeting CDH17 and GUCY2C, conjugated with the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 (a GPX4 inhibitor). Experimental results showed that, compared to monoclonal antibody ADCs, BsADC exhibits better binding and internalization activities, and could inhibit tumor cell proliferation more effectively. Moreover, the BsADC displayed an advantageous safety profile in mice. These findings suggest that the CDH17-GUCY2C BsADC, which induces ferroptosis in tumor cells, could be a promising new treatment for colorectal cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-b977fbb254bc429497fa116313dd418b2025-08-20T03:42:47ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death Discovery2058-77162025-07-0111111010.1038/s41420-025-02652-0Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancerYing Zhang0Jing Du1Xiaohong Cui2Yuhang Ling3Chengwu Tang4Zhejiang University School of MedicineKey Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityPsychiatry Department, Shanxi Bethune HospitalCentral Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou UniversityCentral Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou UniversityAbstract Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the colon or rectum, with approximately 150,000 new cases each year. Current treatment strategies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, face challenges ranging from cancer recurrence, drug resistance to significant toxicity. Therefore, these patients urgently need more effective treatments. Ferroptosis, a novel form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a promising new approach for treating colorectal cancer. Inactivation of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) or the cysteine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 leads to the depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH), resulting in lipid peroxidation and subsequent ferroptosis. Here, we found that CDH17 and GUCY2C are co-overexpressed in colorectal cancer cells and developed a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (BsADC) targeting CDH17 and GUCY2C, conjugated with the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 (a GPX4 inhibitor). Experimental results showed that, compared to monoclonal antibody ADCs, BsADC exhibits better binding and internalization activities, and could inhibit tumor cell proliferation more effectively. Moreover, the BsADC displayed an advantageous safety profile in mice. These findings suggest that the CDH17-GUCY2C BsADC, which induces ferroptosis in tumor cells, could be a promising new treatment for colorectal cancer.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02652-0
spellingShingle Ying Zhang
Jing Du
Xiaohong Cui
Yuhang Ling
Chengwu Tang
Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
Cell Death Discovery
title Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
title_full Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
title_fullStr Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
title_full_unstemmed Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
title_short Development of a bispecific CDH17-GUCY2C ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
title_sort development of a bispecific cdh17 gucy2c adc bearing the ferroptosis inducer rsl3 for the treatment of colorectal cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02652-0
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