New synthetic molecule targets and kills breast and pancreatic cancers in as few as three doses

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Scientists have developed a new molecule that can deliver powerful immune-activating treatment directly to cancer cells, marking an important advancement in cancer therapy. Traditionally, one major obstacle in fighting cancer is overcoming the tumor’s ability to suppress the body’s immune response.

Now, researchers at Stanford University have created an innovative treatment capable of turning immunologically inactive tumors into targets the immune system can attack.

A Novel Approach to Immunotherapy

Current cancer treatments often involve injecting immune-activating substances directly into tumors. However, not all cancers are easily reachable. To overcome this challenge, the Stanford team combined two crucial elements into a single synthetic molecule, PIP-CpG. One part of the molecule, PIP, identifies and binds specifically to integrins—proteins commonly found on cancer cells. The other part, CpG, acts as an immunostimulant by activating Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9).

Idit Sagiv-Barfi  and Ronald Levy  pioneered a potential cancer therapy by injecting two immune-boosting agents directly into solid tumors. 

When administered intravenously, the innovative PIP-CpG molecule efficiently reaches multiple cancer sites throughout the body. By directly targeting tumor sites, this treatment ensures that the immune-stimulating drug accumulates precisely where it’s needed most.

Effective Tumor Targeting and Immune Activation

The research team tested this therapy in mice suffering from aggressive breast cancer. After receiving just three doses, six out of nine mice survived significantly longer than untreated mice. Even more promisingly, three of these mice appeared completely cured, showing no tumor recurrence over several months. Impressively, a single dose was sufficient for complete tumor elimination in half of the tested mice.

Jennifer Cochran, PhD, Shriram Chair of the Department of Bioengineering at Stanford, was enthusiastic about these remarkable results. “We essentially cured some animals with just a few injections,” she said. “It was pretty astonishing.”

When researchers examined the treated tumors, they observed a drastic transformation. Previously dominated by cells suppressing immune activity, the tumors became filled with activated immune cells, including CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and B cells. This shift mirrors the results usually seen only with direct tumor injections.

Overcoming Limitations of Previous Therapies