Background
Wayne
State University researchers have developed a novel strategy to fight cancer and
eradicate tumors through stimulation of the immune system. Curing cancer via the
activation of patients’ immune system is considered an ideal strategy due to the
potentially high potency and specificity of the human immune system to eradicate
tumors. In this regard,
tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), which are uniquely or
excessively expressed carbohydrates on cancer cells, are useful molecular
targets. However, free
carbohydrates are usually poorly immunogenic and only induce T cell-independent
immune responses. Strong T
cell-dependent immune response is necessary for the effective treatment of
cancer. To form functional cancer vaccines that induce strong T cell-dependent
immune responses, TACAs must be covalently linked to an immunologically active
carrier module. Structure-activity
relationship studies of lipid A have disclosed that monophosphoryl lipid A
(MPLA), is a promising immunostimulant or vaccine adjuvant.
Technology
Our
technology uses MPLA as a carrier and adjuvant for the development of TACA-based
cancer vaccines. MLPAs of different
origins are developed and coupled with specific TACAs to form MPLA/TACA
conjugates. Immunological studies
have revealed that these conjugates have induced extremely strong immune
responses in mice without the use of an external adjuvant. This suggests that MPLA can serve both
as a carrier module and vaccine adjuvant to induce T-cell dependent immune
responses. Targeted on specific
carbohydrates that are found on cancer cells, these MPLA/TACA conjugates
activate the immune system to eradicate cancerous tissue. In Vivo studies have demonstrated that
treating melanoma-inoculated mice with the synthetic vaccine can effectively
inhibit tumor growth and tumor metastasis with no obvious side-effects or
toxicity. This technology holds
advantages over other forms of cancer treatment because it has the potential to
be developed into a vaccine that utilizes the body’s natural disease fighting
mechanisms as a more direct and less toxic treatment of cancer.
Commercial
Application
·
Development of highly
effective, less toxic cancer treatments
·
Vaccines
to both prevent and treat numerous forms of cancer
Competitive
Advantages
·
Studies
have shown that our technology induces strong T-cell dependent immune response,
which has been difficult to achieve with other carbohydrate based
vaccines.
Patent
Status
A
provisional patent application is on file.
Tech
ID
09-946