Mice tumor free and protected from metastases after treatment
The shells of a common plant virus, inhaled into a lung tumor or injected into ovarian, colon or breast tumors, not only triggered the immune system in mice to wipe out the tumors, but provided systemic protection against metastases, researchers from Case Western Reserve University and Dartmouth University report.
The scientists tested a 100-year-old idea called in-situ vaccination. The idea is to put something inside a tumor and disrupt the environment that suppresses the immune system, thus allowing the natural defense system to attack the malignancy.
That something–the hard coating of cowpea mosaic virus–caused no detectible side effects, which are a common problem with traditional therapies and some immunotherapies.
The team’s research is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
“The cowpea virus-based nanoparticles act like a switch that turns on the immune system to recognize and fight against the tumor – as well as to remember it,” said Nicole Steinmetz, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve, appointed by the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
“The particles are shockingly potent,” said Steven Fiering, professor of microbiology and immunology at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. “They’re easy to make and don’t need to carry antigens, drugs or other immunostimmulatory agents on their surface or inside.”
The professors studied the nanoparticles with Dartmouth’s Pat Lizotte, a molecular and cellular biology PhD student; Mee Rie Sheen, a postdoctoral fellow; and Pakdee Rojanasopondist, an undergraduate student; and Case Western Reserve’s Amy Wen, a biomedical engineering PhD student.
Taking another shot
The immune system’s ability to detect and destroy abnormal cells is thought to prevent many cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute. But when tumors start to develop, they can shut down the system, allowing tumors to grow and spread.
To restart immune defenses, the scientists used the tumor itself as if it were the antigen in a vaccine–that is, the target for antibodies produced by the immune system.
The cowpea virus shell, with its infectious components removed, acts as the adjuvant–a substance that triggers and may enhance or prolong antigen-specific immune responses.
The process and results
The researchers first switched on the immune system in mice to attack B16F10 lung melanoma or skin melanoma, leaving the mice tumor-free. When the treated mice were later injected with B16F10 skin melanoma (to re-challenge the cured mice), four out of five mice were soon cancer free and one had a slow-growing tumor.
The nanoparticles proved effective against ovarian, breast and colon tumor models. Most of the tumors deteriorated from the center and collapsed. The systemic response prevented or attacked metastatic disease, which is the deadliest form of cancer.
“You get benefits against disease you don’t even know is there yet,” Fiering said.
“Because everything we do is local, the side effects are limited,” despite the strength and extent of the immune response, Fiering said. No toxicity was found.
Harsh side effects, such as fatigue, pain, flu-like symptoms and more are common with chemo and radiation therapies and with some immunostimulation drugs.
The researchers are now trying to understand how the virus shell stimulates the immune system.
“It’s not cytotoxic, there’s no RNA involved or lipopolysaccharides that may be used as adjuvants, and it’s not simply an irritant,” Steinmetz said. “We see a specific immune response.”
Read more: Simple shell of plant virus sparks immune response against cancer
The Latest on: Immune response against cancer
[google_news title=”” keyword=”immune response against cancer” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on:Iimmune response against cancer
- Developing a Personalized Vaccine Against Cancerous Brain Tumorson May 10, 2024 at 1:05 am
Pairing a personalized dendritic cell vaccine with an immune-boosting compound improves the immune response to malignant gliomas.
- RNA-LPAs Induce Immune Responses in Glioblastoma Patientson May 9, 2024 at 7:45 am
RNA lipid particle aggregates (RNA-LPAs) induced immune responses against glioblastoma in a first-in-human trial, according to a report published in Cell.1 The RNA-LPAs were designed to “enhance the ...
- New mRNA vaccine for deadly brain cancer triggers a strong immune responseon May 9, 2024 at 4:00 am
For the first time, scientists have tested a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine in a patient with a deadly form of brain cancer — and it triggered a strong immune response. The vaccine, which was described ...
- New mRNA cancer vaccine helps immune system fight deadly brain tumorson May 7, 2024 at 8:23 am
Researchers from the University of Florida have developed a new mRNA cancer vaccine to retrain the body's immune system to attack and potentially treat glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer.
- Durable lymph-node expansion improves vaccine responses against tumorson May 6, 2024 at 6:59 am
Each one of us has around 600 lymph nodes (LNs) – small, bean-shaped organs that house various types of blood cells and filter lymph fluid – scattered throughout our bodies.
- mRNA vaccine tackles deadly brain cancer in human trialon May 6, 2024 at 6:45 am
Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly cancers, with few treatment options available. Now, a small human clinical trial has demonstrated an mRNA vaccine that quickly rallies the immune system to fight ...
- Fighting Cancer: A Basic Guide To Checkpoint Inhibitorson May 6, 2024 at 6:30 am
People with cancer may encounter checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment option but may not know where to start. This article can help you learn more.
- Unlocking the immune system: cGAS-STING pathway offers new hope for cancer breakthroughson May 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A groundbreaking study has recognized the cGAS-STING signaling pathway as a formidable ally in the immune system's battle against cancer.
- Researchers discover how immune B cells hunt down cancer around the bodyon May 2, 2024 at 11:31 am
This will allow us to develop anticancer antibody treatments similar to the ones the B cells produce, which can then be given as a personalized treatment to boost the immune system's response against ...
- Immune cell discovery ‘could lead to personalised treatment for breast cancer’on May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
which can then be given as a personalised treatment to boost the immune system’s response against breast cancer that has spread.” Scientists at the ICR, the University of Oxford and University ...
via Bing News