In a new study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a new method for creating immunotherapy drugs using engineered peptides. The study showed that the method improved tumor control and prolonged survival in preclinical models of locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer, both as a monotherapy and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Senior author Betty Kim explained that peptides, which are made up of amino acids, are the building blocks of life and can be redesigned to activate the immune system. The goal of immunotherapy is to enhance the body’s ability to detect and destroy cancer cells, which often exploit weaknesses in the immune system to avoid detection.
The body’s immune system is designed to identify and eliminate infected or diseased cells, but cancer cells can evade detection. Current immune checkpoint inhibitors are antibodies that block specific immune signaling pathways, but the engineered peptide in this study activates signaling pathways in immune cells to boost their ability to detect and destroy cancer cells. Instead of using external compounds or modified immune cells, the peptide serves as a messenger to enhance immune responses. Co-corresponding author Wen Jiang stated that this approach opens up a new avenue for developing immunotherapy drugs that can activate immune signaling pathways and enhance anti-tumor responses.
The researchers believe that the naturally derived designed polypeptides used in this study may have a significantly lower toxicity profile compared to synthetic compounds. By potently activating immune signaling pathways, these peptides have the potential to improve the body’s ability to fight cancer without causing harmful side effects. The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Department of Defense. These findings suggest that using engineered peptides as immunotherapy drugs could be a promising strategy to enhance the body’s natural immune response and improve outcomes for patients with cancer.
Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of using designed polypeptides to activate specific signaling pathways in immune cells, enhancing their ability to detect and destroy cancer cells. By utilizing naturally derived agents, researchers hope to develop immunotherapy drugs with a better toxicity profile than synthetic compounds currently in use. The study provides a new approach to developing immunotherapy drugs that could improve tumor control and prolong survival in patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. This research represents a step forward in the field of immunotherapy and offers a promising avenue for future drug development.
