A study by researchers at the University of California San Diego shows that a new combination therapy could be used to fight cancer.
In mouse models of colon cancer, the combination therapy eliminated all tumors and prevented their reappearance, which resulted in 100% survival. In mouse models of melanoma, the therapy improved survival.
The work is reported in a journal.
Natural killer cells reside in the body and in tumors, and the proof-of-concept therapy enhances their activity. Natural killer cells target and destroy cancer cells by releasing molecules that the immune system can recognize and produce antibodies against.
There aren't enough natural killer cells in tumors to be effective Cancer cells can bind to natural killer cells and suppress them, so those in the tumors can't do their jobs.
The therapy uses a cowpea mosaic virus and an anti-4-1BB to overcome the problems. Natural killer cells can be attracted to the tumor microenvironment by the Cowpea mosaic virus and anti-4-1BB can snap them out of their immunity. Natural killer cells are drawn to the tumors by joining forces with the plant virus.
Nicole Steinmetz is a professor at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and director of the Center forNanoImmunoEngineering. The body is manipulated by cancer. We get better results when we combine different agents.
A multi-pronged approach to cancer treatment is no longer the only way to go. Different strategies are used to destroy tumors. An adaptive immune response can be initiated by this, and it can help prevent tumors from recurring.
The therapy was tested on mice. There were two weekly injections of anti-4-1BB and one weekly injection of cowpea mosaic viruses. For three weeks, the mice were given injections into their abdominals. The mice that received the combination therapy survived for at least 90 days. The mice all survived when they were re challenged with colon cancer.
"What's remarkable is that the treated mice gain an immunological memory, which means that their immune systems remember the tumor cells and can attack them on their own when the cancer reappears," he said.
The treatment regimen was tested on mice. When re challenged with melanoma, the combination therapy reduced the growth of tumors and protected the surviving mice.
According to Steinmetz, the combination therapy was the most impressive in the colon cancer model. "Based on the data, more research is needed to understand whether this therapy is effective against a broad range of cancers, or whether the real potential is forperitoneal disseminated disease."
Steinmetz's team is going to investigate that further. The hope is that the combination therapy will lead to an in situ vaccine.
The work was supported by the National Institute of Health and the Shaughnessy Family Fund.
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The materials were provided by the University of California. Lieze Labios wrote the original. The content can be edited for style and length.
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