On the occasion of World Cancer Research Day 2025, Dr Juan C. Osorio explains how innovative therapies like 2141-V11 are offering new hope for patients with metastatic cancer.
Dr Juan C. Osorio, MD, Gynecologic Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Fuelled by technology and knowledge, scientific breakthroughs are reshaping cancer care, offering hope that the disease can be defeated. While conventional treatments become more precise and new ones have emerged, metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread from the original location to other parts of the body) remains a major challenge. Metastatic cancers of the pancreas, stomach, lungs, and esophagus have the highest mortality rates. On average, these patients survive for about 10 months (1). Imagine a scenario where a patient undergoes cancer treatment only to discover after a while that the disease has spread to other areas, leaving very few choices for treatment. This news can leave patients and their families devastated. It also takes a toll on healthcare professionals, who must seek newer ways to beat the cancer.
On World Cancer Research Day, it is crucial to recognise breakthroughs that can help patients with metastatic cancer. One such finding is 2141-V11, an engineered anti-CD40 antibody meant to target tumours directly. Early clinical trials with this medicine have been promising, with some patients experiencing complete remission and others witnessing significant tumour reduction. This finding paves the way for a new era of targeted and less toxic treatments, giving patients with metastatic cancer renewed hope for survival.
Why is metastatic cancer difficult to treat
Metastatic cancer occurs when the cancer spreads from the original location to another part of the body. Typically, cancer cells separate from the main site or primary tumor and move through the bloodstream or lymph vessels, creating new tumours in distant tissues and organs. The most common areas they spread to are the lymph nodes, the lungs, the liver, and the bones. This makes treatment complicated as doctors not only have to eliminate the main tumour but also treat the other regions it has spread to. Traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can help shrink the tumors and manage symptoms, but do not offer a definitive cure (2).
Immunotherapy, on the other hand, is a new form of therapy that works by training the body’s immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells, resulting in positive results in several cancers. However, the challenge in immunotherapy is balancing safety and efficacy. Since these treatments target specific receptors, they can trigger a powerful immune response against cancer but can also lead to side effects. This is especially relevant for therapies targeting the CD40 receptor, a molecule found on certain immune cells. This is where 2141-V11 differs from other immunotherapies.
2141-V11: A different type of immunotherapy
The anti-CD40 antibody, 2141-V11, is not given via an IV like other immunotherapies. It is injected directly into tumours and is engineered to interact with certain parts of immune cells, triggering them to attack cancer cells. It creates clusters of immune cells within these tumors called tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). They function like lymph nodes, encouraging the immune cells to attack the tumor from within. This unique antibody boosts the body’s ability to recognise and destroy cancer cells at the site where it was injected and in other parts of the body as well (3).
Along with binding to the CD40 receptor, 2141-V11 also interacts with another receptor that fine-tunes the immune activation within the tumor. Hence, a highly concentrated and controlled immune response is delivered to the heart of the tumor (4).
In clinical trials (where the effects of 2141-V11 were tested in humans), some patients with metastatic cancer saw their tumors shrink, while they completely disappeared in a few others. Remarkably, distant metastatic tumors not injected with this antibody were also controlled with 2141-V11. Moreover, the treatment was well-tolerated with no severe toxic reactions (5). This has laid the groundwork for more comprehensive studies in the future.
Looking ahead
The success of 2141-V11 is changing the narrative around how metastatic cancer is treated.For patients, the implications are most profound. An effective and less toxic therapy can help patients live longer and healthier lives while managing the disease.This breakthrough also highlights why collaboration and innovation are the lifeblood of oncology. Every stage of development reflects the efforts of researchers, clinicians, and patients who participate in clinical trials. Continued investment in research is essential to make such therapies accessible.
Metastatic cancer is one of medicine’s greatest challenges, but through research, innovation, and global collaboration, the outlook is improving. On this World Cancer Research Day, medicines like 2141-V11 stand as a beacon of hope, proof that progress is possible even against the most formidable diseases known to us.
References:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10876661/
- https://www.mskcc.org/news/what-are-metastatic-and-metastasized-cancers
- https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(25)00319-8
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1535610825003198#sec3
- https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(25)00319-8