The SWA11 antibody is a monoclonal antibody targeting the CD24 protein, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface protein implicated in cancer progression and immune regulation. CD24 is overexpressed in various malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and is associated with tumor metastasis, immune evasion, and poor prognosis. SWA11 (clone name) specifically recognizes the protein core of CD24, distinguishing it from other antibodies like SN3b, which target glycan-dependent epitopes. This specificity makes SWA11 valuable for immunohistochemical (IHC) detection in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues .
A 2015 study analyzed SWA11’s utility in 137 NSCLC cases, comparing it to SN3b. Key findings include:
Mechanistic Insight: Membranous CD24 detected by SWA11 was linked to aggressive tumor behavior, including lymph node metastasis and reduced survival .
Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated:
Membranous CD24+ group: Median survival = 24 months.
Membranous CD24- group: Median survival = 38 months (p < 0.05).
This highlights SWA11’s role as a prognostic biomarker for NSCLC stratification .
SWA11 outperforms SN3b due to its:
Epitope Specificity: Targets the protein core, avoiding glycan variability.
Consistency: Reliable detection across FFPE samples.
Clinical Relevance: Strong correlation with metastatic potential .
Therapeutic Targeting: CD24 is a potential checkpoint inhibitor target; SWA11 could guide anti-CD24 therapy development.
Diagnostic Utility: May improve risk stratification in NSCLC and other CD24+ cancers (e.g., ovarian, breast).
Research Gaps: Further studies are needed to validate SWA11’s role in immunotherapy response prediction .