Anti-IL23, a track to strengthen therapeutic vaccines against induced HPV cancers | The doctor’s daily life | Specialties

Papillomavirus infection (HPV) is the first cause of the cervical cancer, and is also involved in penis cancers, anus and the ENT sphere. However, In France. Furthermore, vaccination against HPV has been recommended since January 2021 for girls and boys aged 11 to 14, with a possible catch -up up to 19 years (or even 26 years old). Moreover, But is it possible to treat cancer in a person already infected by targeting, via a vaccine, the responsible virus? For example, Perhaps. For example, responding researchers from the Keck of Medicine (University of South California), but on condition of neutralizing the key mechanism through which HPV neutralizes T lymphocytes directed against tumor cells. However, According to their work carried out on the HPV 16 strain (identified in more than half of the cervical cancers. approximately 90 % of the throat cancers anti-il23, track strengthen therapeutic vaccines induced by the HPV), the target is all found: the interleukin 23.

We so far knew that this cytokine was involved in the appearance of cancers of the throat. the cervix, but its exact role remained vague. This is the reason why they focused their efforts on this molecule. combining several techniques: cellular cultures, animal models and genomic analyzes. According to their study published in The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancertumors induced by the HPV 16 were first established in mice. to whom a therapeutic vaccine still in development (1) was then administered. Some time later, they extracted and purified the T lymphocytes induced by vaccination. Put in the presence of interleukin 23, these lymphocytes proliferated less well and destroyed the cancer cells less effectively.

First proof of concept in mice – Anti-il23, track strengthen therapeutic vaccines

Even more advanced analyzes have shown that two viral proteins expressed by HPV. E6 and E7, encouraged nearby anti-il23, track strengthen therapeutic vaccines cells to release interleukin 23 which, in turn, prevents T lymphocytes from attacking tumors. In order to validate their discovery by proof of concept, the researchers tried, in mice, to inhibit the interleukin 23. They found an increase in the number of T lymphocytes capable of targeting cancer cells at the level of the site of implantation of the tumor. deduced an increase in the effectiveness of the therapeutic vaccine.

Important detail: Inhibition of Interleukin 23 was made possible by a drug already approved by the Food. Drug Administration (antibodies invivomab anti-IL23 produced by organic x cell) in the indication of psoriasis. The researchers hope that the clinical phases in humans will be simplified and accelerated. These results can be used as part of the development of vaccine strategies intended for people who have been exposed to HPV. for example after positive screening or when a diagnosis of HPV-India cancer anti-il23, track strengthen therapeutic vaccines has been made.

The various developing therapeutic vaccines indeed have a still limited efficiency. “This new study explains why”rejoice the researchers. who evoke applications in other cancers not induced by the HPV but in which the levels of interleukin 23 are also important: the cancers of the testicle and the bladder. But, they specify, “It will first be necessary to clarify the role of interleukin 23 in these pathologies”.

(1) The vaccine platform is a fragment of RNA, or replicon, of the modified equine encephalitis virus to express HPV proteins.