NIH funding to research efficacy of immune blockade and antiangiogenic agents in tumor development and growth
Normally the process of new capillaries forming out of preexisting blood vessels in your body, called angiogenesis, is a useful process. It supports wound healing and supplies oxygen-rich blood to organs and tissues. Unfortunately, when it comes to cancer, the process also contributes to the formation and development of cancerous tumors.
Sujit Basu, MD, PhD, professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, conducts research that explores the role of endogenous factors regulating tumor microenvironment, including tumor neovascularization and the development of new therapies. He just received $3.2 million from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to research the therapeutic efficacy of the combination of the CD200R blockade and antiangiogenic agents in cancer.
Dr. Basu says that CD200R is the inhibitory receptor of CD200, an antitumor molecule.
“By interacting with its inhibitory receptor CD200R, CD200 suppresses immune cell activity within the tumor microenvironment, creating conditions that foster tumor growth,” Dr. Basu says.
He and his team will examine how blocking CD200-CD200R formation can inhibit cellular functions and enhance antitumor immunity. They’ve determined that the development of new therapies to address tumor growth, invasion and metastasis must include understanding the tumor microenvironment, comprising tumor and surrounding cells and secreted cytokines, which provide a conducive environment for the growth and survival of tumors.
Examining immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents is a promising new approach in cancer treatment.
“Immune checkpoint inhibitors block the signals that help cancer cells evade the immune system,” Dr. Basu says. “Antiangiogenic agents target the blood vessels that supply the tumor with nutrients and oxygen, limiting its growth.”
Findings from the study could contribute to better response rates through molecular and cellular mechanisms and the ability to address cancerous tumors earlier, before they change in size and spread.
