May 6, 2024

Nanotechnology Breakthrough Makes Cancer Immunotherapy More Effective Against Solid Tumors

By University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
November 10, 2022

After BiTN particles (red), which consist of the “eat me” signal (teal), are connected to the cancer cell, the immune cell recognizes the cell to consume it. After BiTN particles (red), which include the “eat me” signal (teal), are attached to the cancer cell, the immune cell recognizes the cell to consume it. One explanation is that different expression of immune regulatory particles on blood cancer versus strong tumor cells affects how they connect with immune cells.
In lab designs, the nanoconjugate successfully connected SLAMF7 to the breast cancer cells, resulting in phagocytosis, or intake, by immune cells. The approach also sensitized the breast cancer cells to treatment with an anti-CD47 antibody, which blocks the “do not consume me” signal from growth cells to further increase actions in strong tumors.

” With this new platform, we now have a strategy to convert a solid tumor, a minimum of immunologically, to resemble a hematological tumor, which frequently has a much greater response rate to immunotherapy treatments,” Jiang stated. “If we are able to validate this technique and translate in the clinic, it may enable us to get closer to the maximum level of activity from immunotherapy drugs with cancers that have not traditionally responded well.”
In this illustration, the immune cell does not initially recognize the cancer cell. After BiTN particles (red), which include the “consume me” signal (teal), are connected to the cancer cell, the immune cell recognizes the cell to ingest it. Credit: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Immunotherapy has high action rates in blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, however success has varied across solid tumors. Scientists have actually been working to further comprehend the mechanisms restricting a better reaction. One explanation is that diverse expression of immune regulatory particles on blood cancer versus solid tumor cells affects how they engage with immune cells.
The signaling lymphocytic activation particle relative 7 (SLAMF7) receptor is critical in activating the bodys immune cells versus cancer cells, functioning as an “consume me” signal. It is found almost exclusively on the surface area of blood cancer cells and not in solid growth cells, making it an attractive target for the researchers immune conversion approach.
To promote the expression of SLAMF7 on strong tumor cells, the researchers established their bispecific tumor-transforming nanoconjugate (BiTN) platform. These nanosystems are created with one particle to bind to the surface of targeted growth cells and a second particle to trigger an immune response.
In this research study, the scientists used BiTN with SLAMF7 and a HER2-recognizing antibody to target HER2-positive breast cancer cells. In lab designs, the nanoconjugate effectively connected SLAMF7 to the breast cancer cells, resulting in phagocytosis, or intake, by immune cells. The method likewise sensitized the breast cancer cells to treatment with an anti-CD47 antibody, which blocks the “dont consume me” signal from growth cells to additional boost responses in solid growths.
According to the authors, among the most amazing features of this platform is its broad potential applications. The approach would not be particular to one cancer type or one regulative molecule, rather it has the possible to be a universal method for numerous various strong growth types. As an evidence of principle, the authors likewise established BiTN with folate rather of the anti-HER2-antibody to target triple-negative breast cancer with similar outcomes.
” Because these are engineered constructs, this can be used as a plug-and-play technique to integrate different tumor-targeting agents or immune particles onto the surface of the nanoparticle,” Kim stated. “For clients with solid tumors that have not reacted to immunotherapy, we see this as an added benefit to target the part of the tumor that didnt respond.”
Recommendation: “Immunological conversion of solid tumours utilizing a bispecific nanobioconjugate for cancer immunotherapy” 10 November 2022, Nature Nanotechnology.DOI: 10.1038/ s41565-022-01245-7.
The research study was supported in part by the Susan G. Komen Foundation Career Catalyst Research Grant, the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health (1K08 CA241070, P30 CA016672), and the United States Department of Defense. A full list of disclosures and co-authors can be found in the full paper.

In this series of illustrations, the immune cell does not at first acknowledge the cancer cell. After BiTN particles (red), which include the “eat me” signal (teal), are attached to the cancer cell, the immune cell recognizes the cell to consume it. Credit: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Preclinical study uses nanoparticles to attach immune-activating molecules to tumors, sensitizing them to immunotherapy.
Researchers have actually developed a nanotechnology platform that can change the way the immune system sees strong tumor cells, making them more responsive to immunotherapy. This versatile immune conversion method has the potential for broad application throughout lots of cancer types, according to preclinical findings.
The research study information using this platform to synthetically attach an activation molecule to the surface of tumor cells, activating an immune response in both in vivo and in vitro designs. It will be released today (November 10) in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Wen Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, and Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Neurosurgery, co-led the study, which was carried out by a team of researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.