On July 14, 2022 Repertoire Immune Medicines reported its research collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to identify the immune system’s response at various stages of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) cancer, including initial oncogenesis and after successful treatment (Press release, Repertoire, JUL 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234616686]).
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The research collaboration aims to identify the antigens present on tumors as well as the T cells and specific T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize tumor-specific antigens. Using Repertoire’s DECODE platform to map the adaptive immune system’s response can inform the development of novel cell-based therapeutics by confirming the relevant targets for cell-based treatments.
"Understanding the adaptive immune system’s response to cancer allows us to see how it initially responds to diseased cells. When cancer spreads, it is a signal that the immune system can no longer recognize or defend against the cancer," said Anthony Coyle, Ph.D., President, Research and Development, Repertoire Immune Medicines. "The goal of this research collaboration between Memorial Sloan Kettering and Repertoire is to identify the TCR-antigen pairs that are activated when the immune system is successful in fighting HPV+ cancers. This discovery may lead to new cell therapies and give us insight into why some patients respond successfully to currently available treatments, while others have poor or no response to treatment."
Repertoire’s research collaboration with MSK will also seek to identify the TCR repertoire that is engaged and results in successful treatment outcomes with anti-PD-1 treatment and with conventional chemotherapy-radiation treatment. By identifying cancer-specific epitopes and the T cells that recognize these epitopes in successfully treated patients, it may be possible to define the optimal immunogenic profile for a proposed treatment. This map of the immune system’s response could inform treatment considerations for patients with inadequately treated disease.
"Through this collaboration with Repertoire, we hope to identify the TCR-antigen pairs that successfully protect from tumor formation in patients at various stages of their cancer," said Nadeem Riaz, MD, MSc., Director for Precision Radiotherapy at MSK. "By identifying the relevant TCR-antigen pairs, we may be able to improve the specificity of patient treatment, which could lead to improved outcomes."
About the DECODE Platform
The DECODE platform is a powerful discovery engine that characterizes essential elements of the immune synapse. In particular, the platform identifies T cell receptor-antigen pairs in the context of other important features of the immune synapse, such as T cell function and how these antigens are presented by molecules on antigen-presenting cells, known as major human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, molecules. Repertoire intends to utilize these insights into key drivers that govern immune function to design and develop novel immune product candidates.