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Toll-like receptors as therapeutic targets for cancer

Johanna Holldack1

  • 1Telormedix, Via della Posta 10, CH-6934 Bioggio, Switzerland.

Drug Discovery Today
|September 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists show promise for cancer therapy. New modified TLR7 agonists demonstrate reduced toxicity, enabling systemic cancer treatment and expanding therapeutic applications.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Toll-like receptors (TLRs) activate the innate immune system, representing a therapeutic strategy for cancer.
  • TLRs 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 are validated targets for cancer therapies, with agonists and vaccine adjuvants in development.
  • TLR7 is a proven target for topical treatments of bladder and skin cancers, but systemic application is limited by cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of a new class of modified TLR7 agonists for systemic cancer treatment.
  • To overcome the toxicities associated with previous systemic TLR7 agonist development.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on recent animal data evaluating a novel class of modified TLR7 agonists.
  • Assessment of the toxicological profile of these modified agonists during systemic administration.

Main Results:

  • Recent animal studies indicate that a new class of modified TLR7 agonists can be administered systemically.
  • These modified agonists exhibit an improved toxicology profile compared to previous systemic TLR7 agents.

Conclusions:

  • Modified TLR7 agonists represent a promising therapeutic avenue for systemic cancer treatment.
  • The improved safety profile opens up new possibilities for targeting TLR7 in a wider range of cancers.

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