Cancer vaccines have great potential in innovating cancer treatments, providing a beacon of hope for patients around the world. In search of effective cancer vaccines, various pathways have been explored, including the use of dendritic cells (DCs) as Precursor Manufactured antigen presenting cells (APCs). Despite the limited effectiveness of DCs, their clinical development is hindered by various challenges, including the scarcity of DC progenitor cells in donor/patient blood and barriers related to manufacturing. These limitations prompted scientists to seek alternative cellular platforms, thus proposing the possible use of interstitial stromal cells (MSCs). Interestingly, MSCs are: i) multifunctional in their applications, ii) easy to obtain from several tissue sources, and iii) safety is shown in clinical studies.
In this groundbreaking study, Dr. Moutih Rafei, the principal investigator at the University of Montreal, worked with his colleagues in defense therapy to improve the effectiveness of cancer vaccines by leveraging MSCs as APCs. To achieve this, they transformed the accumulation® The technology was originally designed to enhance drug delivery for effective intracellular accumulation. The use of this technology has led to the discovery of accumulated assets that have not yet been seen® Its derivatives in reprogramming MSCs are used as APCs capable of cross-presenting antigens. This approach results in a strong stimulation of the immune response to cancer. Observations recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Iscience.
By using accumulation® Technology, Dr. Rafei and his team have accumulated® A variant capable of inducing effective antigen cross-presentation in MSCs (called A1). When tested in animals, these cells show encouraging results that can trigger the immune system to fight cancer cells. “Overall, our data suggest the central role of A1 in various cross-presentation-related processes, such as antigen uptake, escape to the cytoplasm and subsequent proteasome machining,” Dr. Rafei noted. At the same time, it was found that A1 caused the production of reactive oxygen species in the body, thereby causing the endosomal membrane to rupture through lipid peroxidation. Dr. Rafei and his team also looked at how A1 affects MSCs and found changes in several biological pathways, including cellular stress response and metabolism, as well as the release of proinflammatory mediators. The sum of these observations makes them call this vaccine one1-remSCS (Weapon). “Arm cells induce effective antitumor responses, as shown in a series of vaccination studies in animals with pre-established solid tumors. This innovative approach has resulted in a large number of animals showing complete responses (e.g., elimination of tumors). ).” Dr. Rafei further explained. Their study not only proposes an alternative vaccination model that utilizes MSCs as the base component, but also shows how the ARM vaccine can be adapted to a wider range of cancer vaccines targeting a variety of other indications.
The pursuit of effective cancer vaccines has led to significant progress, and MSC has become a promising platform. Dr. Rafei and his team demonstrate the potential of leveraging MSCs as APCs through innovative use® technology. “In general, our findings convey two important messages. First, that is, using tumor lysate pulses, arm vaccines can indeed induce effective antitumor responses. Second, the method developed is multifunctional if it can enter the tumor tissue/biopsy, then different cancer types can be adapted to.” Dr. Rafei concluded. This innovative approach not only promises to overcome the challenges of traditional cancer vaccines, but also marks a transformative transformation of immunotherapy, opening up compelling avenues for effective cancer treatment and prevention in the future. Furthermore, its versatility allows it to adapt to a wider range of cancer types, paving the hopeful future of the ongoing battle against cancer.
Journal Reference
Marina Pereira Gonçalves, Roudy Farah, Jean-Pierre Bikorimana, Jamilah Abusarah, Nehme El-Hachem, Wael Saad, Sebastien Talbot, Daniela Stanga, Simon Beaudoin, Simon Beaudoin, Sebastien Plouffe, Moutih Rafei. “A1-programmed mesenchymal stromal cells are primarily effective in antitumor responses.” Iscience, 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.109248.
About the Author
PhD Moutih Rafi Is an immunologist who focuses on the development of immuno-oncology intra-space therapy through training. Over the past decade, he has accumulated profound knowledge and insights in the fields of T cell development, stem cell biology, cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune diseases. While studying for his PhD in Experimental Medicine at McGill University, Dr. Rafei worked on a variety of projects, including the development of novel molten animals while simultaneously exposing them to the biology of mesenchymal stromal cells and the use of these cells as a cell therapy method. Methods provide various instructions. After his PhD, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biology at the University of Montreal, where he studied the effects of cytokines on the development of T cells in the pleural endometrium. His research leads to the groundbreaking discovery of Interleukin-21 in support Start from scratch T cell development. Starting from this powerful foundation, he founded his lab at the University of Montreal in 2013, focusing on methods that stimulate T cell development and activity. So far, he has been considered a leader in the development of immune-related therapies for catastrophic diseases, with many undiscovered precise findings, some of which are currently being tested in clinical trials. Dr. Rafei has received over 20 awards and recognitions so far, and his research has led to more than 50 high-impact peer-reviewed publications, 5 reviews, 2 chapters, 1 proprietary patent and 6 patents. Over the past 10 years, Dr. Rafei has trained a long list of highly qualified personnel as an independent principal investigator and received millions of dollars in grants. He is continually working to consolidate his growing leadership academically and industrially to further develop his innovative research program while making fundamental and transformative breakthroughs in the field of immunology.
