Previous research has shown that cytotoxic lymphocytes rely on gasdermin-mediated pyroptosis to kill tumor cells. Pyroptosis appears to be closely involved in anticancer immune response and has therefore emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. In a recently published study, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison aimed to leverage gasdermin-triggered pyroptosis for antitumor immunotherapy.
Treatment with anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors is not effective in all cases, and around 10% of melanoma patients actually experience a rapid deterioration, a phenomenon known as hyperprogressive disease. Some studies have linked hyperprogression to specific immune cell populations or genes, and it remains unclear if this complication can be directly attributed to checkpoint immunotherapy or not.
Subpopulation of senescent-like cells are known contributors to acquiring drug resistance in cancer. Potential therapies are increasingly being developed with designs to reduce the proportion of slowly dividing cells rather than to kill hyperproliferative cells. Insufficient RNA-binding protein HuR/ELAVL1 levels are known to cause cell senescence, while increased HuR is associated with proliferation.
Immunocytokines (ICs) engage multiple mechanisms of action by the use of antibodies to deliver cytokine payloads to the surface of the same immune cell, known as cis-signaling. Researchers from Bright Peak Therapeutics AG have developed ICs by using a novel approach based on site-specific chemical conjugation of engineered cytokines to existing nonmodified antibodies.
CD39 has an essential role in converting extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP; pro-inflammatory) into adenosine monophosphate (AMP; anti-inflammatory). Preventing the action of CD39 in the tumor microenvironment would increase levels of ATP, causing myeloid cell activation and improvement of tumor control.
MGFB, a subsidiary of Fairwinds Bio, has entered into a patent license agreement with Mayo Clinic to advance experimental cancer vaccine therapeutics based on a novel platform developed at Mayo.
It was a busy day at Moderna Inc. as Merck & Co. Inc. exercised its option to jointly develop and commercialize a personalized cancer vaccine with Moderna in a deal the two companies inked in 2016. Moderna also notched another emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine, this one targeting the omicron variant, for use by those under age 18.
Lyell Immunopharma Inc. has received FDA clearance for its IND application to initiate a phase I trial for LYL-845, an investigational tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy enhanced with Lyell's Epi-R technology for patients with relapsed and/or refractory metastatic or locally advanced melanoma and other select solid tumors.
