On June 20, 2022 Surface Oncology (Nasdaq: SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, reported that findings from a study interrogating the role of the IL-27 pathway in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been published in the online edition of Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) (Press release, Surface Oncology, JUN 20, 2022, View Source [SID1234616101]). The study was conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Fox Chase Cancer Center in collaboration with Surface.
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Researchers found that IL-27 receptor signaling promoted HCC development in mice, and that IL-27 served as an immunological checkpoint that regulates natural killer (NK) cell and innate immune cell activation. The study also demonstrated that pharmacological neutralization of IL-27 using an antibody developed by Surface led to increased NK and innate immune cell activation and reduced HCC development. The study incorporated observations on the effect of IL-27 on several models of HCC development, including a model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a known risk factor for the development of liver cancer, which is increasing in prevalence.
"The findings published in Cancer Discovery, combined with previously reported translational and early clinical data, support our hypothesis that IL-27 blockade is a promising immunotherapy for patients with cancer," said Vito Palombella, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Surface. "HCC is the most common form of liver cancer and characterized by a poor survival rate and limited treatment options. These data bolster our belief that SRF388, a first-in-class IL-27 neutralizing antibody, holds the potential to become an important treatment option for patients confronting this devastating disease."
Surface’s lead IL-27 antibody, SRF388, is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical studies, including a randomized Phase 2 trial designed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in combination with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with first-line advanced or metastatic HCC. SRF388 was granted Orphan Drug designation and Fast Track designation for the treatment of HCC from the FDA.