«Our results in experimental models of cancer suggest a new therapeutic strategy based on inhibiting the microRNA machinery — or the Let - 7 microRNAs — specifically in the TAMs, which may unleash the power of mainstream immunotherapies, such
as immune checkpoint inhibitors.»
The class of medications that he conceived, known
as immune checkpoint inhibitors, works counterintuitively: By turning off one of the immune system's built - in safeguards, the inhibitors allow T cells — the system's foot soldiers — to attack tumors more effectively.
Not exact matches
One class of immunotherapeutic drugs is known
as «
checkpoint»
inhibitors,
as they target
checkpoints in
immune system regulation to allow the body's natural defenses, such
as white blood cells, to more effectively target the cancer.
Known
as a
checkpoint inhibitor, tremelimumab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that «cuts the brakes» of the
immune system by targeting cytotoxic T - lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA - 4), a protein that can switch off a patient's
immune response.
Checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that target certain proteins that downregulate the
immune system, such
as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD - 1), programmed death - ligand 1 (PD - L1) and cytotoxic T - lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA - 4).
It would involve gene therapy delivered at the time of surgery and systemic delivery of the
immune checkpoint inhibitors, such
as through IV injection.
Results of an initial study of tumors from patients with lung cancer or head and neck cancer suggest that the widespread acquired resistance to immunotherapy drugs known
as checkpoint inhibitors may be due to the elimination of certain genetic mutations needed to enable the
immune system to recognize and attack malignant cells.
Commenting on the two studies, Baas says that finding a good treatment for mesothelioma has been a challenge for many years and has so far led to many disappointments, so there is a need for investigation into new pathways such
as the use of
immune checkpoint inhibitors that target the PD - 1 / PD - L1 pathway.
We also apply these techniques to model systems in order to identify subgroups of patients who are uniquely sensitive or resistant to targeted therapies, such
as poly (ADP - ribose) polymerase (PARP)
inhibitors or
immune checkpoint blockade.
iTeos is now developing EOS200271 which is a synthetic, small molecule
inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3 - dioxygenase (IDO1), which has demonstrated the same anti-tumour activity in multiple preclinical tumour models in combination with
immune checkpoint inhibitors as competitors, but also has demonstrated superior brain penetration.
It is considered that in advanced or metastatic disease,
immune checkpoint inhibitors, such
as anti PD - 1 / PDL - 1 and CTLA4 should be the standard of care [55].
The other involves what are known
as «
immune checkpoint blockade
inhibitors,» which Parker describes
as «retraining» the «troops» to be able to get around cancer's defenses.
T - cells (red, yellow, and blue) attack a tumour in a mouse model of breast cancer following treatment with radiation and a PD - L1
immune checkpoint inhibitor,
as seen by transparent tumour tomography.
In an effort to further exploit the potential of Pexa - Vec to activate the
immune system to fight cancer,
as seen in McDonald's preclinical data, SillaJen recently announced a new clinical trial in collaboration with New York - based Regeneron Inc. to test Pexa - Vec and REGN2810, a PD - 1
checkpoint inhibitor, in combination against renal cell carcinoma, and recently signed a sponsored research agreement with UCSF to enable joint support of parallel preclinical experiments by McDonald's team.
The study highlights an opportunity to combine this form of therapy with cancer immunotherapy drugs such
as checkpoint inhibitors, which unleash the
immune system's full cancer - fighting power, the researchers say.
Led by Leena Gandhi, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and director of thoracic medical oncology, researchers from the KEYNOTE - 021 study demonstrated for the first time that combining an
immune checkpoint inhibitor — in this case, pembrolizumab — with a platinum - doublet chemotherapy regimen might be more effective than chemotherapy alone
as first - line treatment for advanced, non-squamous NSCLC.
Capacity for substantial genetic payload supports multiple tumor antigens or a combination of tumor antigens and other
immune stimulatory molecules, such
as checkpoint inhibitors.