Precision Targeting of Treg cells to Fight Solid Tumours
Background
Lung and colorectal cancers are the two deadliest cancers in Australia, collectively making up 28% of cancer deaths. Currently, only limited treatment options are available for patients with advanced disease.
Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that boosts the body’s own immune system to fight cancer and has the potential to revolutionise cancer treatments. Current immunotherapies are, unfortunately, only effective in up to 40% of patients and the focus of many of these is only on targeting a type of white blood cell, called a CD8+ T cell, that destroys abnormal cells.
About the project
Dr Teh and her team are developing a novel approach to immunotherapy that targets a different type of white blood cell, called a regulatory T cell. Regulatory T cells can prevent a patient’s immune system from effectively killing cancer cells, with high levels associated with poorer outcomes in solid cancers. This project aims to target ‘suicide genes’ to kill regulatory T cells that are surrounding the tumour.
Impact
This research could open a pathway for new treatment options for people living with lung and colorectal cancers. It could also improve the effectiveness of current immunotherapies and be applied to a wide range of other solid tumours.