Targeted nanoparticles improve efficacy of immunotherapies against colon and lung cancer

A team of researchers from the Cima and from the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition of the University of Navarra has developed an innovative treatment that uses nanoparticles targeting immunosuppressive cells to improve the immune system's response to cancer.

This treatment, which has shown promising results in preclinical models of colon and lung cancer, encapsulates within these nanoparticles the P60 peptide, an inhibitor of the activity of the cells that protect the tumor from attack by the immune system (Treg cells), to block its action.

The main challenge until now had been to get the P60 peptide to reach the right cells without losing efficacy along the way. Using a technique that encapsulates the peptide in specific nanoparticles targeting Treg cells, it has been possible to improve its stability and increase its precision. "This not only allows the immune system to attack the tumor more efficiently, but also enhances the effectiveness of current immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are already used in numerous immunotherapy treatments against cancer," explains Dr. Mª Jesús Garrido, professor at School of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Navarra and researcher manager of project.

Results that generate hope

In programs of study with mice the results have been very encouraging: treatment with these targeted nanoparticles led to the complete disappearance of tumors in 100% of cases when combined with immunotherapy therapies such as anti-PD-1. In addition, the nanoparticles promoted an inflammatory environment that helped destroy the cancer cells.

"This breakthrough brings us closer to more precise and effective cancer treatments. By specifically targeting the cells that hinder the immune response to the tumor, we are able to make the immune system respond more strongly and effectively. Full Professor We believe this technology could significantly improve current therapies and offer new opportunities to fight the disease," says Juan José Lasarte, co-inventor of the P60 peptide and researcher of project. Dr. Lasarte is the co-director of the Immunology and Immunotherapy Program at Cima, part of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra. The results have been published in certificate Pharmacologica Sinica.

This breakthrough opens the door to new personalized treatments, since the technology is flexible and can be adapted to encapsulate different drugs. With these results, researchers at the University of Navarra are confident that, once the necessary clinical phases are completed, "this treatment could represent an important advance in the fight against cancer, increasing the efficacy of available therapies and offering new options for patients".

The study, carried out at framework of the Institute of research Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), has received public and private funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Government of Navarra (project SOCRATHES), the Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation and the Bita Foundation.

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→ certificate Pharmacologica Sinica (2024) 0:1-13. link to full publication: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-024-01338-0