Tame pancreatic cancer with intratumoral immunotherapy
Nanomedicine researchers at Houston Methodist have found a way to tame pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers, by using a device smaller than a grain of rice to deliver immunotherapy directly to the tumor. discovered.
In a paper recently published in Advanced Science, researchers at the Houston Methodist Institute demonstrated continuous low-dose delivery of CD40 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), a potential immunotherapeutic agent, via nanofluidic drug-eluting seeds (NDES). We used an implantable nanofluidic device we invented to deliver . ). As a result, a mouse model found that he reduced tumors at doses four times lower than conventional systemic immunotherapy treatments.
“One of the most exciting findings was that the NDES device was only inserted into one of two tumors in the same animal model, yet the tumor shrank without the device,” says Corrine. Dr. Ying Xuan Chua said. Co-corresponding author and Assistant Professor of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Academic Institute. “This means that local treatment with immunotherapy was able to activate immune responses that target other tumors. Indeed, one animal model remains tumor-free after 100 days of observation. I stayed.”
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. In fact, approximately 85% of patients already have metastatic disease at diagnosis.
Houston Methodist researchers are working on a similar nanofluidic delivery technology on the International Space Station. Grattoni’s Nanomedicine Lab in Houston Methodist focuses on implantable nanofluidics-based platforms for controlled long-term drug delivery and cell transplantation to treat chronic diseases.
Immunotherapy shows promise for the treatment of cancers that have so far lacked good treatment options. However, because immunotherapy is administered systemically, it has many side effects that can be long, if not lifelong. By focusing the delivery directly to the tumor, the body is protected from exposure to toxic drugs, resulting in fewer side effects and inherently improving the quality of life of patients undergoing treatment.
“Our goal is to change the way cancer is treated. This device is a viable approach to penetrating pancreatic tumors in a minimally invasive and effective manner, with a lower dosage. We believe this will allow for more intensive treatment in the United States.” of Nanomedicine at the Houston Methodist Institute.
The NDES device consists of a stainless steel drug reservoir containing nanochannels, thus creating a membrane that allows sustained diffusion when the drug is released.
Other medical technology companies offer intratumor drug-eluting implants for treating cancer, but they are intended for short-term use. Houston Methodist’s nanofluidic devices are intended for long-term, controlled, sustained release, avoiding repeated systemic treatments that often lead to adverse side effects.
Additional studies are underway to determine the efficacy and safety of this delivery technique, but the researchers hope it will become a viable option for cancer patients in the next five years.
Original: Implantable device shrinks pancreatic tumors
Than: Houston Methodist Hospital
