Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
04:41
Lumbar Intrathecal Injection of SOD1-ASOs for Precise CNS Targeting and Predictive Efficacy in Human SOD1-G93A ALS Mice
Published on: February 24, 2026
Science gone translational: the OX40 agonist story
Andrew D Weinberg1, Nicholas P Morris, Magdalena Kovacsovics-Bankowski
1Providence Cancer Research Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA. andrew.weinberg@providence.org
Immunological Reviews
|October 25, 2011
Summary
OX40 agonists enhance anti-tumor immunity by boosting T cell responses. This review details the successful translation of the first OX40 agonist from preclinical cancer models to clinical trials for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- OX40 (CD134) is a costimulatory receptor on activated T cells.
- It is upregulated on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and in inflammatory lesions.
- Modulating OX40 offers therapeutic potential for immune-related diseases and cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the preclinical development and clinical translation of OX40 agonists for cancer therapy.
- To highlight the journey from laboratory research to clinical application.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies of OX40 signaling.
- Preclinical evaluation in mouse tumor models.
- Clinical trial design and execution for OX40 agonist therapy.
Main Results:
- OX40 agonists demonstrated potent enhancement of anti-tumor immunity in preclinical models.
- Successful translation of the first OX40 agonist to clinical trials for cancer patients.
- Preclinical observations informed clinical development strategies.
Conclusions:
- OX40 agonists represent a promising strategy for enhancing anti-tumor immunity.
- The development pathway described illustrates successful bench-to-bedside translation.
- Further clinical investigation of OX40 agonists in cancer is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Drug Discovery: Overview
Drug discovery is a multifaceted process involving extensive screening, testing, and optimization of lead compounds to identify potential new drugs for therapeutic use. It combines several approaches, including screening large numbers of natural products, chemical modification of known active molecules, identification of new drug targets, and rational design based on biological mechanisms and drug-receptor structure. These approaches are carried out in both academic research laboratories and...
01:28Preclinical Development: Overview
Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
01:16Transduction
Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:29Translational Regulation
Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
01:20Cotranslational Protein Translocation
Translocation of proteins across membranes is an ancient process that occurs even in bacteria and archaebacteria. In fact, the components of the translocation machinery are still conserved between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Sec61 channel partners for cotranslational translocation
During cotranslational translocation, the Sec61 channel partners with the signal recognition particle (SRP), the signal recognition particle receptor (SR), and the ribosomes to transport the nascent polypeptide chain...
Sec61 channel partners for cotranslational translocation
During cotranslational translocation, the Sec61 channel partners with the signal recognition particle (SRP), the signal recognition particle receptor (SR), and the ribosomes to transport the nascent polypeptide chain...