Researchers at the ⁤Korea advanced Institute of Science⁤ and ⁢Technology ⁤(KAIST) have developed a new immunotherapy approach that directly converts immune cells within tumors – specifically macrophages – into effective anticancer therapies. this breakthrough addresses a key challenge in​ cancer treatment: the suppression of immune‌ cells by the tumor microenvironment.

Tumors often contain macrophages, immune cells​ with the ​potential to fight cancer. However, these cells are frequently suppressed by the tumor, hindering ⁢their ability to function⁣ effectively. The KAIST‌ team, led by Professor Ji-Ho Park of the Department of Biotechnology and Brain Engineering, has devised a ⁤method to overcome this limitation.

The ‌therapy involves injecting a drug directly into the ⁢tumor. This drug is then absorbed by the macrophages already present within the ⁣tumor.‌ Once inside​ the⁢ macrophages, the drug triggers the production of CAR (Chimeric Antigen‌ Receptor) proteins. These CAR proteins enable the macrophages to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

CAR-Macrophage Therapy: A Novel⁢ Approach

CAR-T cell therapy, a well-established immunotherapy, involves genetically engineering a patient’s T cells to express CAR proteins. Though, CAR-T cell therapy‌ can be associated with⁣ significant side effects. The KAIST approach offers a potential advantage by utilizing macrophages, which⁢ are naturally present⁤ in the tumor microenvironment and generally considered less toxic than T cells.

“Our research demonstrates the feasibility of ​converting existing immune cells within ⁤the tumor into potent ‍anticancer agents,” explained Jun-Hee ‍Han, Ph.D., the frist author of ​the ⁤study and ⁣a ‌researcher in the Department of Biotechnology and Brain Engineering at KAIST. “This approach could potentially minimize the ‍side effects associated​ with⁣ customary CAR-T cell therapy.”

The research‍ team focused on enhancing both the ⁤ delivery efficiency and overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor environment to maximize the therapeutic effect. The direct‍ injection method ensures ‌a high⁢ concentration of the drug reaches the target macrophages,while the reprogramming process ⁢circumvents the tumor’s suppression‌ mechanisms.

Publication ​Details ⁣and⁣ Funding

The findings⁢ were published on November 18, 2023, in ACS Nano,⁢ a leading international journal in the field of nanotechnology. The⁣ research ⁢article is titled and ⁤details the methodology and​ results of the ⁢study.

This research was supported by the Mid-Career Research Programme of the national Research Foundation of Korea. The project underscores the importance of continued investment in basic research to ‍drive innovation in cancer treatment.