Researchers Develop Gel to Deliver Cancer Drugs for Solid Tumors
Published:05 Dec.2023 Source:Mass General Brigham
Intratumoral therapy -- in which cancer drugs are injected directly into tumors -- is a promising treatment option for solid cancers but has shown limited success in clinical trials due to an inability to precisely deliver the drug and because most immunotherapies quickly dissipate from the site of injection. A team of researchers from Mass General Brigham, in collaboration with colleagues at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, has developed a gel delivery system that overcomes these challenges.
After optimizing the gel in the lab, the team tested its ability to treat mouse models of colon and breast cancer that are usually resistant to immunotherapy. They showed that treating with gel-delivered imiquimod in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapy improved survival in both cancer models.
The gel is injectable but solidifies upon delivery; contains an imaging agent for visualization under CT scan; and can hold a high concentration of drug for slow, controlled release. The researchers are keen to move this technology to the clinic, but it will first need to go through more rounds of testing for safety. They also plan to test its efficacy with a broader panel of drugs.