CST Unveils HER3 Rabbit mAb for Researchers

Cell Signaling Technology launched a new HER3 rabbit monoclonal antibody (mAb) for researchers studying HER2-mediated breast, lung and ovarian tumors. 

The rabbit origin is beneficial for researchers studying cancer in mouse models, since it results in cleaner, more specific experimental results than would be possible with a mouse monoclonal antibody,” David Freeman, head of global marketing at Danvers, Massachusetts-based CST, told us.

According to of CST, HER3 proteins may be required for HER2 transformation of normal cells in at least a subset of cancers. Preclinical research has also recently shown that HER3 activity may be a mechanism by which tumor cells escape inhibition.

The HER3 antibody was developed to visualize the presence of HER3 protein in tissue specimens to better understand the distribution of this important protein in disease processes,” Freeman said. “The antibody can be used on tissue sections from either patient samples or animal models to accurately and with high sensitivity visualize the presence of the HER3 protein.”

CST’s HER3 antibody is a rabbit monoclonal and therefore avoids well known background issues when using mouse antibodies for IHC in mouse xenograft models, which predominate in cancer research.

Research studies indicate that HER3 plays a role in HER2+ breast, lung, and ovarian cancers as well as many other tumor types,” Freeman said. “Studies have also shown that HER2-dependent tumors can upregulate HER3 expression as a strategy for evading tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.”

In addition, extensive testing has confirmed that there is no cross-reactivity with other family members, including EGFR, HER2/ErbB2, and HER4/ErbB4, enabling greater confidence in research results.

CST’s HER3/ErbB3 Rabbit mAb has been validated for immunohistochemistry as well as western blot, Immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry.