On March 17, 2026 CoRegen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company pursuing novel treatments for patients impacted by some of the most aggressive forms of cancer, reported the publication of research conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine describing how the disruption of steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) expression in regulatory T cells (Treg cells) can reprogram the tumor immune microenvironment and enable the immune system to eliminate multiple solid tumors. The article, titled, "Steroid receptor coactivator 3-deficient regulatory T cells eradicate multiple solid tumors in syngeneic mouse models," was published in the open access, peer-reviewed journal, OncoImmunology. One of the lead researchers, Sang Jun Han, PhD, Director of Lab Research, CoRegen, describes how selectively eliminating SRC-3 in Treg cells reprograms their function, shifting them from immunosuppressive regulators to promoters of anti-tumor immunity without inducing immune-related toxicities, a finding demonstrated across multiple preclinical tumor models including breast cancer, glioblastoma, melanoma, and lung cancer.
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The full paper can be accessed here.
SRC-3 co-regulates cell behavior that controls immune response. When knocked out, the expression of several genes involved in Treg signaling is altered, ultimately enhancing the immune system’s ability to combat cancer without causing pathological autoimmune reactions. This unique mechanism of action allows immune effector cells to recognize, attack, and kill cancer by allowing CD8+, CD4+ and NK tumor-killing effector cells to infiltrate into tumors. The SRC-3 engineered Treg cells block pathogenic tumor-protective transcriptional programs in the Treg cell, thereby altering the tumor microenvironment in a way that supports tumor destruction by the patient’s own immune system.
"We are delighted to have these findings that support our SRC-3 technology published in such a well-respected journal," said Suneet Varma, Chairman of the Board, CoRegen. "This research highlights a powerful new way to harness the immune system against cancer by reprogramming Treg cells so that tumors cannot evade immune attack. If these findings translate to patients, engineering SRC-3 disrupted Treg cells could represent a watershed moment for therapies capable of eradicating multiple, difficult-to-treat cancers while avoiding many of the immune-related side effects seen with current immunotherapies."
David Lonard, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of CoRegen and Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology at the Baylor College of Medicine, added, "This publication provides important proof-of-concept data showing that selectively targeting SRC-3 in Treg cells can reprogram the tumor microenvironment to drive potent anti-tumor activity. The eradication and durable immune protection observed across multiple solid tumor models strongly support the translational potential of CoRegen’s lead program."
CoRegen remains on track to submit an investigational new drug application (IND) for its lead candidate in Spring 2026 and initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial thereafter.
(Press release, CoRegen, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663680])