Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed an antibody that “flags” aggressive tumors for the immune system, helping it fight highly aggressive cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer. The study was published in the journal Molecular Therapy (MolT).

The key target of the new antibody is a region of the protein ROR1, which is present in many malignant tumors but largely absent in healthy tissues.

According to the study’s lead researcher, Fernando Guimarães, the antibody not only identifies cancer cells but also enhances the activity of natural killer (NK) cells—immune cells that destroy tumors. The best results were observed when the antibody therapy was combined with TGF-β blockade, a signal that tumors use to suppress the immune response.

The team also developed “enhanced” NK cells, genetically modified to resist suppression by TGF-β. These cells more effectively located and destroyed ROR1-positive tumors in both laboratory experiments and animal models.

Triple-negative breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed in young women and remains one of the most difficult forms to treat, as it has few standard therapeutic targets and tumors develop rapidly. According to the researchers, the approach combining targeted antibody therapy with enhanced NK cells could form the basis for a new generation of immunotherapies.

Guimarães emphasized that these findings lay the groundwork for future clinical trials. If the method proves effective in humans, the antibody could become part of new treatment protocols with a low risk of side effects.