New and exciting immunotherapeutic trial for multiple cancer subtypes. Article written by our senior research coordinator Karin Donaldson. Consider trials earlier in the course in patients with unresectable or metastatic cancer whenever possible. I have sponsor and IRB approval to place this article on this blog! More detail information can be found at MDNA and Clinicaltrial.gov
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a naturally occurring protein that is produced by T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune system. IL-2 helps regulate the growth and differentiation of effector T cells and high-dose recombinant human IL-2 is approved as an immunotherapeutic agent to boost the immune system for certain types of advanced cancer.
Medicenna Therapeutics has developed an investigational drug called MDNA11 which is a type of therapy called an IL-2 superkine. An IL-2 superkine is a modified version of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) protein which has been engineered to enhance its biological activity and potentially improve its therapeutic properties.
The various classes of immunotherapies and where cytokine therapy falls into!
IL-2 superkines are designed to enhance the anti-tumor activity of IL-2 by increasing its affinity for the IL-2 receptor found on anti-cancer T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. MDNA11 is a next-generation long-acting IL-2 Superkine that has been fused with human recombinant albumin, which increases its half-life and minimizes dosing frequency compared to high-dose recombinant human IL-2.
This Superkine has been designed to preferentially bind the IL-2 beta receptor (IL-2Rβ) on immune cells and to become a powerful switch for activating and proliferating the immune cells needed to fight cancer. MDNA11 has the ability to preferentially stimulate cancer-fighting NK cells and naive CD8 T cells instead of immuno-suppressive regulatory T cells, when compared to native IL-2. It does so by specifically binding to and inducing enhanced activation of IL-2Rβ (whilst abolishing binding to IL-2Rα expressed on regulatory T cells) to begin a cascade of events that overcomes the immune-suppressing effects of cancer and activates the cancer-killing immune cells – including cytotoxic T cells, naive T cells, and NK cells.
In preclinical tumor models, MDNA11 induces tumor regression and has shown synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, inducing long-term memory and antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, demonstrating the additional potential for combination therapies. This therapy is being developed clinically specifically as single agent therapy as well as in combination with other immunotherapies, initially anti-PD-1.
Orlando Health is currently enrolling patients with various solid tumors to a clinical trial of MDNA11, including malignant cancers affecting the skin, head and neck, lung, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and gynecological areas.
For more information, click here:
A Beta-only IL-2 ImmunoTherapY (ABILITY) Study – Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov
About the author
Dr. Sajeve Thomas is a distinguished medical professional and a compassionate guide in the field of oncology. With over a decade of dedicated experience as a board-certified medical oncologist/internal medicine specialist, Dr. Thomas has become a trusted expert in the treatment of melanoma, sarcoma, and gastrointestinal conditions. Currently practicing at the renowned Orlando Health Cancer Institute, he brings a wealth of expertise to the complex and challenging world of oncology.
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