Researchers at MIT and Stanford have made a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment. They discovered a new way to help the immune system recognize and attack tumor cells. This method could help many more cancer patients than current therapies allow.
The key lies in reversing a “brake” that cancer cells use to stop immune cells from doing their job. This brake is controlled by sugar molecules called glycans, found on the surface of cancer cells. By blocking these glycans with molecules known as lectins, the researchers dramatically increased the immune response against cancer. They created multifunctional molecules named AbLecs, which combine lectins with antibodies that target tumors.
Jessica Stark, a lead researcher and professor at MIT, states, “We created a new protein therapy that can block glycan-based immune checkpoints.” This could lead to new, effective treatments for cancer.
Understanding Immune Response
The immune system can sometimes forget how to attack tumors because of these brakes. One common method used in cancer therapy is called checkpoint inhibitors. They block some interactions between proteins that stop immune cells, allowing them to go after cancer cells. However, these drugs don’t work for everyone.
Current research focuses on other blockers that limit this immune reaction. Glycans often trigger a pathway in immune cells that stops them from attacking tumors. When glycan molecules, particularly sialic acid, bind to receptors on immune cells—called Siglecs—it hinders the immune response, similar to the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction.
Despite various attempts, there are no approved therapies targeting this specific interaction. Earlier efforts to develop lectins that bind to sialic acids have struggled. That’s where AbLecs come in. By attaching lectins to antibodies that specifically target cancer cells, they can effectively block sialic acids from interacting with immune receptors.
A Flexible Solution
In their study, the researchers designed AbLecs using trastuzumab, an existing cancer therapy for various cancers. By modifying the antibody, they created an efficient way to encourage immune cells to attack cancer. Lab tests showed that these AbLecs successfully rewired immune cells to destroy cancer cells.
They also tested the AbLecs in mice engineered to express human receptors. Result? Mice treated with AbLecs had fewer metastases than those treated with just trastuzumab.
The researchers emphasize that AbLecs are flexible. You can mix and match different antibodies and lectins to target various cancers. “They’re modular,” Stark notes, making them adaptable to various tumor types.
Looking Ahead
Stark, along with her team, has launched a company called Valora Therapeutics to develop these promising therapies. They aim to begin clinical trials within the next few years.
In summary, the study offers hope in the fight against cancer. By disrupting the complex interactions that inhibit immune responses, there is potential for broader and more effective immune-based treatments. This research not only sheds light on a crucial area of cancer biology but also drives forward the development of new therapies that could change the lives of many patients. For more on this research, you can read the full study in Nature Biotechnology.
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cancer immunotherapy, Antibodies, lectins, glycans, Jessica Stark, AbLecs
