Researchers Seek to Develop Genetically Engineered Brain Cancer Treatment

Scientists at Purdue University are trying to develop a new treatment for glioblastoma tumors. Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that originates in the spinal cord and/or brain. This cancer is fatal, with a median time of survival of 14 months.

Conventional treatments for other cancers, including immunotherapy and chemotherapy, are ineffective on this particular cancer. These treatments work by blood cells being taken from a patient then reintroduced back into their bodies after genetic engineering to fight cancer cells.

This study was led by associate professor Sandro Matosevic of Purdue’s department of industrial and molecular pharmaceutics. The study’s objective was to develop a new immunotherapy that could be used against glioblastoma.

The researchers began by developing immunotherapy based on new, genetically engineered allogeneic immune cells sources from induced pluripotent stem cells. Once this was done, they then tested their treatment on mice with human brain tumors. This was done by injecting the engineered immune cells directly into the tumors.

Matosevic stated that their preclinical studies demonstrated that these immune cells were exceptional in how they targeted and completely terminated tumor growth. The researchers also determined that they could engineer these immune cells at doses suitable for clinical use in humans. This, they explained, was notable as a major obstacle in cell-based treatments being translated to humans is lack of potency of cells obtained directly from patients and poor expansion.

By utilizing a synthetic approach, the researchers eliminated hurdles to the manufacture of these cells. The researchers, said Matosevic, are now focused on carrying out clinical trials centered on treating individuals with brain tumors. This includes patients whose tumors weren’t completely extracted during surgery. Their objective is to bring this therapy to individuals with brain tumors because they urgently deserve more effective and better treatment options.

The researchers are partnering with other collaborators to acquire funding for their research and commence clinical protocols. They are also seeking new partnerships and collaborations with parties interested in supporting their objective to translate their treatment to the clinic, where it is most needed.

This innovative therapy was reported to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, leading them to apply for a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office to protect the intellectual property.

The study’s findings were reported in the “Nature Communications” journal.

Other researchers involved include Xue Yao, Kyle B. Lupo, Jiao Wang, Shambhavi Borde, Bennett D. Elzey, Sandra Torregrosa-Allen, Nadia A. Lanman, Sagar Utturkar and MacKenzie McIntosh.

The efforts being put into researching new brain cancer treatments along with the work of companies such as CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) could soon yield alternatives that offer patients better clinical outcomes and an improved quality of life despite having a diagnosis of these hard-to-treat cancers.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CNSP

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