A small molecule that could be a more accessible and effective alternative to an antibody that is successfully used to treat a range of cancers has been identified and synthesized by scientists at Tel Aviv University and the University of Lisbon. The results of the study were published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

Behind the groundbreaking development is an international team of researchers. They were led by Prof. Ronit Sachi-Fainaro, Head of the Center for Cancer Biology Research and Head of the Laboratory for Cancer Research and Nanomedicine at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, and Prof. Helena Florindo and Prof. Rita Guedes from the Research Institute for Medicines at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon. [1]

Figure 1. Small Molecule developed that makes Immunotherapy Available to all Cancer Patients

Figure 1 shows the antibodies against PD-1/PD-L1 proteins are already approved for clinical use and are considered the great promise in the fight against cancer. This immunotherapy can significantly improve patient outcome, without the severe side effects that accompany treatments such as chemotherapy. But the antibodies are expensive to produce, hence not available to all patients. Moreover, the treatment does not affect all parts of the solid tumors because the antibodies are too large to penetrate and reach less accessible and less exposed areas of the tumor. [2]

The researchers say that in comparison to antibodies, small molecule inhibitors usually need to be administered at higher concentrations or more regularly. However, due to the high efficacy in terms of T-cell activation and tumor growth the small molecule discovered by the scientists may be administered at the same dose as conventional antibodies used in immunotherapy. [3]

A smaller yet smarter alternate

The discovery made by the Nobel Prize winners of 2018 is greatly promising when it comes to fighting against cancer, there are some setbacks to consider. Firstly, antibodies are costly to produce; hence they don't appeal to all patients. Secondly, antibodies are too large to penetrate through a solid tumor; therefore, the treatment falls behind, affecting all parts of the cancer.

Researchers, however, have combined bioinformatic and data analysis tools to come up with a smaller yet smarter alternate.

In the second stage, we confirmed that the small molecule controls tumor growth as effectively as the antibodies—it inhibits PD-L1 in animals engineered to have human T cells. In other words, we have developed a molecule that can inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 binding and remind the immune system that it needs to attack the cancer. Moreover, the new molecule has some major advantages over the antibody treatment. [4]

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/small-molecule-developed-that-makes-immunotherapy-available-to-all-cancer-patients/
2. https://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-developed-a-small-molecule-that-makes-immunotherapy-available-to-all-cancer-patients
3. https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/oncology/immunotherapies/small-molecule-developed-potentially-making-immunotherapy-available-to-all-cancer-patients/
4. https://interestingengineering.com/health/immunotherapy-available-to-all-cancer-patients

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Small Molecule developed that makes Immunotherapy Available to all Cancer Patients, Anatechmaz, pp. 390