Having the cake and eating it? Clofazimine boosts immunotherapy while limiting side effects
Lukas Kraehenbuehl1, Jedd D Wolchok2, Taha Merghoub3
1Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, NY, USA; Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Cancer Cell
|April 5, 2024
Summary
The antimicrobial drug clofazimine enhances cancer immunotherapy effectiveness while reducing harmful side effects. This discovery offers a promising strategy for improving combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) shows efficacy in some cancer patients.
- ICB treatment is associated with immune-related adverse events.
- Novel strategies are needed to improve ICB efficacy and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify agents that can potentiate ICB efficacy.
- To find drugs that mitigate ICB-associated immune-related adverse events.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a drug screening strategy.
- Investigated the effects of identified compounds on ICB.
- Evaluated the impact on both efficacy and adverse events.
Main Results:
- Identified the antimicrobial drug clofazimine.
- Clofazimine was found to potentiate ICB efficacy.
- Clofazimine also decreased immune-related adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Clofazimine is a potential therapeutic agent for improving combined immune checkpoint blockade.
- This finding offers a dual benefit of enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity for cancer immunotherapy.
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