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Published on: September 1, 2018
Intratumoral immunotherapy of murine pheochromocytoma shows no age-dependent differences in its efficacy
Ondrej Uher1,2, Katerina Hadrava Vanova1, Radka Lencova2
1Section on Medical Neuroendocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States.
Abstract:
Cancer immunotherapy has shown remarkable clinical progress in recent years. Although age is one of the biggest leading risk factors for cancer development and older adults represent a majority of cancer patients, only a few new cancer immunotherapeutic interventions have been preclinically tested in aged animals. Thus, the lack of preclinical studies focused on age-dependent effect during cancer immunotherapy could lead to different therapeutic outcomes in young and aged animals and future modifications of human clinical trials. Here, we compare the efficacy of previously developed and tested intratumoral immunotherapy, based on the combination of polysaccharide mannan, toll-like receptor ligands, and anti-CD40 antibody (MBTA immunotherapy), in young (6 weeks) and aged (71 weeks) mice bearing experimental pheochromocytoma (PHEO). The presented results point out that despite faster growth of PHEO in aged mice MBTA intratumoral immunotherapy is effective approach without age dependence and could be one of the possible therapeutic interventions to enhance immune response to pheochromocytoma and perhaps other tumor types in aged and young hosts.
Insights
Cancer immunotherapy, using MBTA, effectively treats pheochromocytoma in both young and aged mice. This approach shows no age-dependent differences, offering a promising option for diverse patient populations.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy has advanced significantly, yet few studies assess aged populations, who are most affected by cancer.
- Age is a major risk factor for cancer, necessitating research into age-dependent immunotherapy efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of MBTA intratumoral immunotherapy in young versus aged mice with pheochromocytoma.
- To investigate potential age-dependent effects of cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Experimental pheochromocytoma (PHEO) model in young and aged mice.
- Intratumoral administration of MBTA immunotherapy (mannan, toll-like receptor ligands, anti-CD40 antibody).
Main Results:
- Pheochromocytoma grew faster in aged mice compared to young mice.
- MBTA intratumoral immunotherapy demonstrated efficacy in both age groups.
- No significant age-dependent differences in immunotherapy effectiveness were observed.
Conclusions:
- MBTA intratumoral immunotherapy is an effective strategy for pheochromocytoma treatment, irrespective of host age.
- This immunotherapy holds potential for enhancing immune responses against pheochromocytoma and other tumors in both young and aged individuals.
