A single dose of treatment might eradicate cancer cells.
Fresh Takedown:
Cancer-fighting scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a game-changing treatment that uses a targeted injection to annihilate tumors in mice. This innovative approach could revolutionize the way we combat various types of cancer.
Over the past few years, researchers have been tirelessly working on developments to combat cancer, offering fresh hope. The latest experiment, led by Stanford, takes a unique approach: injecting tiny amounts of two agents to boost the immune system directly within a tumor.
Spearheading the effort is Dr. Ronald Levy, an expert in immunotherapy, which is a treatment that enhances the body's immune response to target cancer cells. This novel method, which might hit big, combines a one-time application of these two agents to stimulate immune cells within the tumor, effectively teaching them to fight against specific types of cancer cells.
These agents include CpG oligonucleotide, a DNA sequence that increases the immune cells' OX40 receptor expression, and an antibody that activates T cells. Once activated, the T cells migrate to attack and destroy other tumors throughout the body, providing hope for various types of cancer patients.
The new study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, and the researchers are optimistic about clinical trials due to one of the agents' approval for use in human therapy and the other's ongoing clinical trial for treating lymphoma.
What sets this approach apart from other immunotherapy treatments is its targeted nature. It avoids the hassle and side effects that come with widespread activation of the immune system or the customization of immune cells for each patient. Plus, it requires only a one-time application of small amounts of the agents, making it potentially cost-effective.
The method's effectiveness was demonstrated across various cancer models, such as lymphoma, breast, colon, and skin cancer, even in genetically engineered mouse models for breast cancer. However, when different types of cancer tumors were transplanted in the same animal but the treatment was applied only to one site, the results varied, confirming the targeted approach of this treatment.
In essence, this method holds significant potential for treating a wide range of cancer tumors in humans, providing hope for cancer patients worldwide. If the upcoming clinical trial for low-grade lymphoma is successful, the team hopes to extend this therapy to treat any type of cancer tissue that has been infiltrated by the immune system.
[1] Source: "Minimally invasive immunotherapy with programmed cell death protein-1-blocking antibody plus agonistic CD40 antibody for the treatment of metastatic cancer" - Science Translational Medicine, 30 Jan 2021
- This innovative immunotherapy treatment, which could revolutionize cancer treatment, boosts the immune system directly within a tumor, teaching immune cells to fight against specific types of cancer cells, such as other lymphomas.
- The novel approach, which targets cancer cells more precisely than other immunotherapy treatments, combines a one-time application of agents CpG oligonucleotide and an antibody that activates T cells, potentially reducing side effects and costs.
- If the upcoming clinical trial for low-grade lymphoma is successful, this method could extend to treat any type of cancer tissue that has been infiltrated by the immune system, offering hope for patients with various medical conditions like cancer and health-and-wellness concerns.
