Targeting T Cells in Tumor Microenvironments through Immunotherapy

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2019-LOW-68726
Researchers at Purdue University have created a ligand-targeted drug for reprogramming the body's immune system to eliminate cancer. This targeting strategy introduces a new frontier in medicinal chemistry and cancer therapeutics. Currently, cancer cells rather than immune cells in the tumor microenvironment are studied to develop therapies for solid tumors. However, immunoinhibiting regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are abundant in tumor microenvironments, can have greater potential to regenerate anti-tumor immunity. The approach developed by Purdue University involves the reprogramming of Tregs using of a targeting molecule with specificity for Tregs that can deliver an attached inhibitory drug solely to Tregs. Uptake of this inhibitory drug by the tumor Tregs then blocks the Tregs immunosuppressive properties and thereby allows the patient's immune system to eradicate the tumor. By targeting the therapeutic drug in this manner, the immunoinhibiting function of Tregs can be silenced without changing the immune system elsewhere in the body.


Advantages:
-Strong binding affinity
-Small molecule treatment of tumors
-Reprograms the immune system

Potential Applications:
-Cancer Therapy
-Molecular Medicinal Chemistry
-Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
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Sep 30, 2019
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