In a study published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel approach for creating immunotherapy drugs using engineered peptides to trigger a natural immune response in the body. In preclinical models of locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer, this technique enhanced tumor control and extended survival, both as a standalone treatment.
Researchers have found that amino acids, the basic components of life, can be linked together to form peptides, which are essential for various biological functions. The goal is to modify these peptides to activate the immune system, according to senior author Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of Neurosurgery.
The immune system is designed to identify and eliminate infected or diseased cells, but cancer cells can evade detection by exploiting weaknesses in the immune system. Researchers are exploring ways to leverage amino acids and immune checkpoint inhibitors to overcome this challenge.The main aim of immunotherapy is to enhance the body’s natural capacity to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. The existing immune checkpoint inhibitors are antibodies created to obstruct specific immune signaling pathways.
The specially designed peptide enhances the immune system’s capability to identify and eradicate cancer cells in a distinctive manner. Instead of using an external substance to trigger a response, or collecting and altering immune cells for cell therapies, the peptide acts as a messenger to activate specific signaling pathways in immune cells to enhance their effectiveness.
“These discoveries provide an entirely new path for the development of immunotherapy medications.Using specially designed polypeptides, we can effectively activate the immune system to improve the body’s response to tumors. Furthermore, because these agents are naturally derived, we expect them to have a much lower level of toxicity compared to synthetic compounds,” explained co-corresponding author Wen Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., who is an associate professor of Radiation Oncology.
Funding for this study was provided by the National Cancer Institute (CA241070) and the U.S. Department of Defense.
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