MCC research explores new way to treat solid tumors, creates go-to resource for Midwest

If you have a headache, you have many over-the-counter medication options to bring relief. Which do you choose? Likely the one that’s been most effective with the least or most bearable side effects.

What if this could be the same for cancer patients? Clinical trials in the MCC/M Health Fairview system are exploring new ways to treat prostate cancer and give patients more options.

How it works

For men with prostate cancer, current treatment options can bring incredibly difficult side effects. Standard treatments like surgery and hormone therapy can lead to urinary and bowel problems or even hot flashes.  

Nicholas Zorko, MD, PhD, oncologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and Masonic Cancer Center researcher, is conducting innovative research on prostate cancer using a new way to treat solid tumors called bispecific antibody therapy.

Bispecific antibody therapies—which are currently being utilized as FDA-approved treatment of some blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma—are medications with two "working ends," Zorko explained. One end binds to and activates an immune cell already in the body, while the other end binds to a specific part of a tumor cell. 

“When both ends bind to their targets, the close proximity allows the immune cell to quickly and efficiently kill the tumor,” Zorko said. 

Choosing your side effects

While these therapies show promise in treating solid tumors, they are not without side effects. 

“These therapies don’t have fewer side effects, just different ones,” Zorko said. “The goal is to be able to provide options, so we can pair a patient’s preference on side effects to the type of therapy they have.” 

An early phase trial for a bispecific antibody therapy is being conducted at the M Health Fairview Clinical Research Unit (CRU) for men whose prostate cancer has returned after the first treatment but has not spread. The study is one of several studies investigating bispecific antibody therapies that will soon be open in the Fairview system. Early indications show side effects resembling strong flu-like symptoms that can be managed, but more research is needed.

A go-to regional center for care

Zorko’s unique training and expertise in cancer care, cellular therapies and immunotherapies has created opportunities for his team to conduct research on innovative treatments for patients. For example, the CRU is one of only eight sites in the world that is conducting this specific study—and the only site in the Midwest. 

“Treating early phase clinical trial patients in the Clinical Research Unit allows us to quickly start patients on these innovative immunotherapy regimens while providing a high level of monitoring,” Zorko said. “We hope to continue to rapidly enroll eligible patients as we grow our solid tumor bispecific antibody program into the go-to center for the region.” 

Along with conducting other clinical trials, Zorko’s team is providing FDA-approved bispecific antibody therapies for other cancers. Treatments will be expanding from UMMC to our cancer care centers at Southdale and St. John’s hospitals.

“Cancer is a scary diagnosis for any patient and treatment can be difficult,” said Brad Benson, MD, Chief Academic Officer for the M Health Fairview system. “Dr. Zorko’s work is a great example of the work we, together, are doing to continually provide breakthrough care close to home to make things easier for our patients.”

Find more details on these studies, check out to Studyfinder:
NCT06555796
NCT06691984
NCT05519449

This story was authored by Jeremy Kennedy.