Our work has focused on CD26 as a novel therapeutic target for various tumors and immune disorders, and we have recently developed a humanized anti-CD26 monoclonal antibody (mAb), YS110, which has promising safety profile and clinical activity in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
We herein review significant novel findings and the early clinical development of a CD26-targeted therapy in selected immune disorders and cancers, advances that can lead to a more hopeful future for patients with these intractable diseases.
In this review, we summarize valuable information about detailed biological aspects and pharmacokinetic characteristics of CD26/DPPIV and its clinical efficacy, focusing particularly on the role of CD26/DPPIV in immunological and non-immunological diseases.
Finally, we discuss the involvement of CD26 in various pathophysiologic states as well as its suitability as a potential therapeutic target in selected immune diseases.
Importantly, our recent in vitro and in vivo data support the hypothesis that CD26 may indeed be an appropriate target for therapy for selected cancers and immune disorders.