Bispecific Antibodies

In the rapidly advancing field of immuno-oncology, T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies—engineered to simultaneously bind 2 different antigens—are an innovative and emerging platform in cancer immunotherapy.¹ Like CAR T-cells, bispecific antibodies are designed to specifically target tumor-associated antigens on the surface of cancer cells. However, unlike the personalized and time-intensive cell manipulation required for CAR T-cell therapies, FDA-approved bispecific antibodies are "off-the-shelf" treatments. This makes them a more streamlined and readily available approach to cellular anti-cancer immunotherapy.^2,3

Emerging clinical data suggest that bispecific antibodies may soon expand to treat solid tumors such as small cell lung, prostate, and gastrointestinal cancers. ACCC resources focus on preparing oncology care teams for the delivery of these treatments in community and rural cancer programs, offering insights into the latest findings and best practices.

As the use of bispecific antibodies continues to expand, addressing barriers such as treatment-related toxicities and other practical considerations is essential for their successful implementation in community cancer care. Educational materials provide strategies for early identification and management of adverse events, ensuring optimized care delivery for patients treated with these therapies.

To support the integration of bispecific antibodies into oncology care, resources have been developed by ACCC to help cancer care teams:

• Assess readiness for administering these therapies safely and effectively
• Address adverse event management associated with bispecific antibodies
• Explore best practices in care coordination, including optimizing referral patterns, patient navigation, and transitions of care for patients receiving bispecific antibody treatments.

References

1. National Cancer Institute. Bispecific antibodies. Definition of Cancer Terms. Last accessed May 20, 2020.
2. FDA Approves BLINCYTO™ (Blinatumomab) Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Amgen. December 3, 2014.
3. Strohl WR, Naso M. Bispecific T-Cell redirection versus chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells as approaches to kill cancer cells. Antibodies (Basel). 2019;8(3):41. Published online 2019 Jul 3.
4. Helwick C. Bispecific antibodies: successes and challenges. ASCO Post. April 20, 2020. Last accessed May 20, 2020.

* BiTE® is a registered trademark of Amgen, Inc.