New Delhi, July 11: A novel nanoformulation designed to combat deadly brain tumors has demonstrated promising results in pre-clinical trials, according to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
Glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of cancerous brain tumor in adults, presents significant challenges in treatment despite existing options such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma typically face a bleak prognosis, with a life expectancy of only 12-18 months post-diagnosis.
The research team developed a novel nanoformulation called Immunosomes, which combines a CD40 agonist antibody with the small molecule inhibitor RRX-001. This innovative approach, detailed in the journal Biomaterials, aims to enhance treatment effectiveness for brain tumors and potentially improve outcomes for glioblastoma patients.
In pre-clinical studies, mice bearing glioblastoma that were treated with Immunosomes showed complete eradication of tumors and remained tumor-free for at least three months. Furthermore, the treatment induced a robust immune response in the hosts to combat brain cancer. After three months, the researchers re-challenged the long-term surviving mice by implanting glioblastoma cells. Remarkably, the mice previously treated with Immunosomes exhibited minimal tumor growth, indicating that Immunosomes could establish long-term immune memory capable of preventing future tumor recurrence without additional intervention.
Beyond its efficacy against glioblastoma, Immunosomes also show promise in reducing the toxicity associated with CD40 agonist antibodies, a significant concern for clinicians worldwide.
"We are greatly encouraged by these findings and are eager to advance our research to human clinical trials involving a broader spectrum of glioblastoma patients," commented Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor at the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, IIT Delhi.
