As students at the centre of cancer research

How can a promising antibody against cancer be produced more efficiently, cost-effectively and sustainably? 13 RPTU students are asking themselves this question - and are taking part in the largest international competition in synthetic biology with the solutions they have developed. Among them are Julia Beck and Fynn Kirsch, who are studying Molecular Biology at RPTU. Here they report on the advantages of being involved in a major practical research project so early on in their studies.

‘International Genetically Engineered Machine’, or iGEM for short, is the largest interdisciplinary competition in the field of synthetic biology for students who conduct research on a real-life problem over an extended period of time. RPTU is also represented again this year: With the project SUSPACT - ‘Sustainable Use of Synthetically Produced Antibodies for Cancer Treatment’ - in German equivalent to ‘Nachhaltige Nutzung von synthetisch produzierten Antikörpern für die Krebsbehandlung’.

The approach of this year's iGEM team is to make the production of an antibody that is already being used successfully in cancer treatment simpler, more efficient and more resource-friendly. The 13-member team has been working on this challenge since September 2024.

The initial situation should be noted: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are well-known treatment methods for cancer. In recent years, antibody-based therapy approaches have also become established: ‘Highly specialised proteins specifically attack cancer cells without unnecessarily damaging healthy tissue,’ explains iGEM team member Julia Beck, who is in her sixth semester of Molecular Biology. ‘One promising antibody is cetuximab, which is used for bowel and throat cancer, among other things,’ adds fellow student and also iGEM team member Fynn Kirsch.

Cetuximab is directed against a protein that is found in the membranes of human body cells, the so-called EGFR receptor. EGFR stands for ‘epidermal growth factor receptor’. This receptor receives chemical signals, so-called growth factors, which stimulate cell metabolism. Cancer cells often have a large number of EGFR molecules in their cell membranes. Cetuximab now binds to these receptors, which has the effect of reducing the spread of cancer cells to other regions of the body - and presumably also inhibiting tumour growth in general. 

DNA construct introduced into green algae

Sounds good - but there is a catch: antibodies are one of the most effective, but also one of the most expensive methods of treating cancer. The approach currently costs at least USD 10,000 per therapy because antibodies have to be produced in mammalian cells, which is very resource-intensive. This is exactly what the iGEM team wants to change: they are using a genetic engineering method called modular cloning. Put simply, individual DNA components are assembled into larger units. A DNA construct created in this way is then inserted into the genome, i.e. the genetic material, of a living organism. The iGEM team works with the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Julia Beck explains: ‘In our case, we insert the genes for the cetuximab antibody into the green algae.’ The desired effect: the green algae then produces the antibody - and much more cheaply and easily than is possible with conventional methods. Julia Beck and Fynn Kirsch proudly report that it took them around two to three months to actually achieve this in the laboratory for the first time.

To do this, the iGEM team had to familiarise themselves with the different molecular biological methods - and also wanted to find out how the antibody can be produced particularly efficiently: ‘We used two strains,’ explains Fynn Kirsch, ‘One kept the antibody in the cell, the other also produced it in the cell, but then secreted it.’ In this way, the junior research team wanted to find out whether the same amount of antibody ‘comes out’ with both approaches. In fact, it worked very well with the strain that secretes, explains Fynn Kirsch: ‘Which is an advantage. Because when the protein is secreted, we don't have to destroy the cells to get to the antibody.’ Ideally, the antibody should later be produced on an industrial scale. That is why they are currently also working on the question of how their approach can also be used to produce large volumes.

‘We have learnt to work as a team’

‘We've all completed laboratory internships during our studies,’ adds Fynn Kirsch, ’but this time we're working on everything ourselves from scratch.’ Julia Beck remembers standing at the lab bench in awe at the beginning: ‘I thought to myself, don't do anything wrong.’ But now she approaches things very independently. ‘We've learnt to work as a team,’ adds Fynn Kirsch: ’Over time, you also get an eye for detail. So, what do you have to pay attention to when setting up experiments? And also how to publish the results later.’

In addition to the laboratory work, the team is also responsible for publicising the project. Through public relations work, iGEM aims to make synthetic biology more accessible to the general public. The results and experiences are published on a self-programmed wiki (website). Julia Beck: ‘We are also in contact with companies for sponsorship, for example.’ They want to finance some of the laboratory equipment in this way. 

iGEM is a full-time job for almost a year: the student team works in the lab from 10 am to 5 pm. Sometimes they even have to work at the weekend - to check an experimental setup or to prepare one or two things. ‘Some of our team study an extra year to have time for iGEM,’ says Fynn Kirsch. But the students see all of this as an advantage for their future careers: the confidence they now have in the lab will also be very useful for their Bachelor's thesis - which could be a follow-up project to their iGEM project.

Cost-effective production of antibodies for cancer treatment

They are supervised by Professor Michael Schroda, who heads the Biotechnology and Systems Biology departments at RPTU. ‘We have a meeting with him every two weeks’. They are also very well supported by the doctoral students and Master's students in the department, explains Fynn Kirsch.

In the next step, the iGEM team - in collaboration with the toxicology department - wants to find out whether the antibody they have produced is actually able to bind the EGFR receptor. This will soon be tested on cancer cells. The iGEM team is still working out exactly how.

The special thing about their work, they both emphasise, is that it is theoretically possible to produce other antibodies, perhaps even other drugs, in this way - i.e. using their green algae approach. ‘We initially only focussed on cetuximab. However, the approach could also be transferred to other issues,’ says Julia Beck.

Finals in October 2025

The fact that students work so independently on their own research project early on in their degree programme is part of the practical training offered by the Department of Biology at RPTU. The aim is for students to apply theoretical knowledge in practice. Julia Beck and Fynn Kirsch really appreciate having the opportunity to do this. In general, they like studying at RPTU very much. Julia Beck: ‘You can tell that the professors are very concerned about how we are doing as students.’

The grand finale of the iGEM competition will take place in Paris in October 2025. At this ‘Giant Jamboree’, the teams will present their projects to a jury and the other teams. Medals will then be awarded for various categories. Julia Beck, Fynn Kirsch and the entire iGEM team are well prepared. And all fingers are crossed at RPTU.