Glioblastoma immunotherapy
A team of researchers from the Texas College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicine at Texas A&M University, Northwestern University and ImmunoGenesis Inc. has developed a treatment for glioblastoma that has shown promising prospects for patients with the most aggressive form of brain tumor.
As part of the study, Elizabeth Boudreau and her colleagues injected an immunotherapy drug developed by immunologist and founder of ImmunoGenesis Inc., Dr. Michael Curran, into five dogs with glioblastoma directly into the tumor. STING agonists (STimulator of INterferon Genes, stimulator of interferon genes) allow the immune system to find and destroy immune-resistant cancer cells.
An MRI scan during a 10-month follow-up showed that in some dogs, after a single injection, the volume of the tumor significantly decreased. One animal has a complete response – visually, the tumor has completely disappeared. This allowed the authors to suggest that the drug can generate a persistent antitumor immune response and be effective in tumors that are poorly treatable, including glioblastoma.
MRI of the brain of a dog with glioblastoma. Before treatment, a large volume tumor is visible (top left) and diffuse infiltration (bottom left). 12 weeks after the introduction of the STING agonist, the tumor (top right) and the associated infiltration (bottom right) disappeared.
This study was based on previously obtained data from genetic analysis of canine glioblastoma samples, which showed that they are molecularly similar to human tumors and may be based on the same mutational process and will require similar treatment strategies.
Glioblastomas in dogs and humans tend to have a poor prognosis, as they are difficult to remove surgically, and traditional treatments have many side effects and are very expensive. Surgical removal of the tumor, radiation and /or chemotherapy increase the life expectancy of patients by only a few months.
During the study, the dogs did not have the tumor surgically removed, which limited the dose that could be safely delivered directly to the brain. In clinical studies in patients with glioblastoma, the STING agonist is planned to be combined with surgery, which should increase its safety and effectiveness.
Article by C.E.Boudreau et al. Intratumoral delivery of sting agonist results in clinical responses in canine glioblastoma is published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on materials from Texas A&M University: Researchers Discover Treatment That May Be Viable For Human Brain Cancer.