Drug-Factory implants eliminate mesothelioma in mice
By Warren Miller. 8th September 2022
New research that could provide a powerful platform that would change the way mesothelioma cancer is treated.
In a recent study, researchers have demonstrated they can eradicate advanced-stage mesothelioma tumours in mice in just a few days with a new treatment. The research from Rice University and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, U.S.A combines Rice’s cytokine “drug factory” implants and a checkpoint inhibitor drug.
These tiny, drug-producing beads were implanted in the chest cavity of the mice next to tumours where they could produce continuous, high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer.
The scientists Researchers have discussed their findings with the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and hope to start clinical trials to test the effectiveness of the procedure on mesothelioma patients by the second half of 2023.
A Rice University bioengineer said recently:
“ There is a lot of work left to be done, but we are definitely excited about the potential and encouraged by the clinical work already done . . . This could shift the paradigm of treatment. ”
Technique to Delivers Drugs Directly to Tumours
The drug-producing beads are 1.5 millimetres wide - no larger than the head of a pin - and consist of alginate beads loaded with tens of thousands of cells that are genetically engineered to produce natural interleukin-2. This is a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer and is one of two cytokines the FDA has approved for treatment of cancer. The researchers have named this process “drug-factory” technology.
Alginate is a naturally occurring, edible polysaccharide found in brown algae, refined from brown seaweeds. Interleukins are a group of cytokines (secreted proteins and signal molecules) that are expressed and secreted by white blood cells (leukocytes) as well as some other body cells. The human genome encodes more than 50 interleukins and related proteins.
The factories can be implanted with minimally invasive surgery to place the beads beside mesothelioma tumours and inside the pleura, the thin layer of tissue which covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest.
In the mesothelioma study, the Rice-Baylor team tested the drug factory implants both by themselves and in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor that targeted the PD-1 protein. Immunotherapy with drugs called checkpoint inhibitors has met with some success in treating mesothelioma. Checkpoint inhibitors don’t kill cancer directly but rather by training the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
Results of the drug-factory trial
In the first group they found the drug factory implants eliminated tumours in more than 50% of the mice when used by themselves.
Tumours were destroyed completely in all seven mice that were treated with both the drug factory implants and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, none of which exhibited any recurrence in the following weeks of observation.
Dr. Bryan Burt - a mesothelioma specialist at Baylor University and co-author of the study said:
“ It’s very hard to treat mesothelioma tumours in mice, like it is in human beings . . . And what our data show is that delivery of these immunotherapy particles, regionally, to these mice who have mesothelioma, has very provocative and very effective treatment responses. In fact, I've not seen these mesothelioma tumours in mice be eradicated, with such efficacy, as we have in this mouse model. ”
The results also suggest that the combination of interleukin-2-producing implants and anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors could be effective at training “memory T cells” that can reactivate the immune system to fight mesothelioma if it recurs.
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Source
Rice, Baylor study highlights potential treatment for aggressive lung cancer
https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/drug-factory-implants-eliminate-mesothelioma-tumors-mice
Author
Warren Miller MSc. BSc
Claims manager and website author
Warren has been assisting victims of Mesothelioma and asbestos cancer for more than 18 years. He is also the senior technical author of this website, responsible for sourcing legal and medical material beneficial to those who may been recently diagnosed with an asbestos disease.. Read more >
