COBIK’s Post

✨ Exciting Progress in Cancer Therapy! ✨ Institute of Oncology Ljubljana I'm happy to share the publication of our phase I clinical study in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology This marks the first gene therapy clinical trial in Europe using Interleukin-12 (IL-12) for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma in the head and neck region. 📄 In this Phase I trial, we demonstrated: The feasibility and safety of intratumoral delivery of the phIL12 plasmid via gene electrotransfer. Local IL-12 production triggering a targeted immune response, accompanied by IFN-γ expression and increased immune cell infiltration in tumors. Encouraging results laying the groundwork for future Phase II trials combining this approach with local tumor-ablative therapies. This study represents a significant step forward in harnessing the immune system to combat cancer, with the potential for broader applications in oncology, such as combination with radiotherapy. 💡 Collaboration and innovation made this possible—thank you to our exceptional multidisciplinary team and our partners who supported this effort. 🔗 Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d3P9tXNx #GeneTherapy #CancerResearch #OncologyInnovation #ClinicalTrials #IL12Therapy #electroporation #geneelectrotransfer #phaseI #interleukin12 #COBIK JAFRAL Biosolutions Iskra PIO University of Ljubljana University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Cancer risk linked to p53 tumor suppressor gene in Ulcerative Colitis. Federal Republic of Germany. October 25, 2024. Excerpt: Researchers led by graduate student Kimberly Hartl, at the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology of Max Delbrück Center (MDC-BIMSB) and Charité – Universitätsmedizin, shed new light on the role of p53 tumor suppressor gene in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) – an inflammatory bowel disease linked to increased risk of colon cancer afflicting an estimated five million people worldwide. Ulcerative colitis affects the large intestine, specifically “crypts,” the tube-like glands within epithelial tissue that line the intestine. Crypts contain stem cells and other cell types that maintain health and normal function of the colon, such as absorbing nutrients or secreting mucus. Note: When the colon is injured, epithelial crypt cells proliferate rapidly to fix the injury, "repair mode". In patients with UC and UC-related colon cancers, the cells become stuck in repair mode, remaining in a “regenerative cell state.” The colon struggles to function normally, triggering more stem cell proliferation in a toxic feedback loop. In the current study, Hartl found this defective repair mechanism is linked to a non-functional p53 gene, which plays a key role in regulating the cell cycle and in repairing DNA. “If there is no p53, cells remain in a proliferative state,” explained Michael Sigal, Group Leader of the Lab "Gastrointestinal Barrier, Regeneration Carcinogenesis." Existing tests to find precancerous lesions in patients with UC such as colonoscopies can identify visible lesions that sometimes are not easy to remove, said Sigal. This study could be a first step in developing molecular tools for a less invasive diagnostic test that would allow physicians to identify aberrant cells much earlier, even before visible alterations occur. To study the repair process, researchers developed a three-dimensional organoid – a mini organ model of the colon grown from mouse stem cells. The organoids were treated with compounds that interfere with glycolysis (breakdown of glucose by enzymes) to test the targeting of highly proliferative cells. The cells lacking p53 gene were found to be more vulnerable to treatment than normal cells. The next step is to transfer the findings to the human setting. Researchers are studying the repair process in more detail with the goal of developing simpler methods to identify cells with defective p53 genes in colon tissue. “Once we have a simple method of identifying these individual cells in colon tissues, we could perform clinical studies to selectively kill them, and analyze whether this is associated with a lower risk of developing cancer,” said Sigal. Direct link to publication and Investigator contact enclosed. https://lnkd.in/eVJ4G8_f.

In a latest study, Geneseeq and collaborators analyzed targeted sequencing data from 6,530 tissue samples of metastatic colorectal cancer(CRC) patients to investigate the mutation patterns and subgroup-specific driver genes. This study highlights the heterogeneity of CRC, emphasizing the complexity of driver gene mutations, which hold significant implications for treatment strategies, prognostic assessments, and personalized medicine approaches. #colorectalcancer #targetedsequencing #cancerresearch #genomics Read more about this study: https://lnkd.in/gNhv78jR Learn more about Geneseeq's targeted sequencing panels for solid tumor: https://lnkd.in/e7P4ycC

🎗️ Advances in the Fight Against Cancer 🎗️ I recently read a story that highlights the immense potential of advanced therapies in the treatment of cancer. A patient saw his cancer disappear in just one month after a groundbreaking treatment approach, showing how science and technology are changing lives in amazing ways. As someone transitioning into the field of Cell and Gene Therapy, this news reinforces my motivation to contribute to developing treatments that can bring hope and cure to millions. Biotechnology is breaking barriers, and the future of healthcare is bright. Let's keep advancing and supporting life-saving research! #CellTherapy #Biotechnology #CancerCure #ScienceThatTransforms

Tumor hypoxia drives metabolic shifts, cancer progression, and therapeutic resistance. Challenges in quantifying hypoxia have hindered the exploitation of this potential “Achilles’ heel.” While gene expression signatures have shown promise as surrogate measures of hypoxia, signature usage is heterogeneous and debated. Here, we present a systematic pan-cancer evaluation of 70 hypoxia signatures and 14 summary scores in 104 cell lines and 5,407 tumor samples using 472 million length-matched random gene signatures. Signature and score choice strongly influenced the prediction of hypoxia in vitro and in vivo. In cell lines, the Tardon signature was highly accurate in both bulk and single-cell data (94% accuracy, interquartile mean). In tumors, the Buffa and Ragnum signatures demonstrated superior performance, with Buffa/mean and Ragnum/interquartile mean emerging as the most promising for prospective clinical trials. This work delivers recommendations for experimental hypoxia detection and patient stratification for hypoxia-targeting therapies, alongside a generalizable framework for signature evaluation. Interesting study by Matteo Di Giovannantonio and larger team at the University of Oxford. https://lnkd.in/gXSzzEqa

Gene Classifier Tests May Be Giving Poor Results in Prostate Cancer Genomic classifier may influence treatment decisions for patients with localized prostate cancer, but without giving optimal results. The authors wrote, “Personalized treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa) remains a critical unmet need". The lead author is Amir Alishahi, MD, PhD, MPH, from the Moffitt Cancer Center. The team was comprised of researchers from the Durham VA Health Care System and collaborators.

Treating HCC with genetically modified NK-cell therapy 🧬 Exciting research reveals a breakthrough in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. Scientists at the University of California San Diego found that blocking the TGF-β signalling pathway enhances antitumour activity against this notoriously treatment-resistant solid tumor. Unlike CAR T-cell therapy, genetically modified NK-cell therapy offers a promising avenue for targeting and treating HCC. This innovative approach eliminates the need for personalization, allowing for mass production and immediate availability to patients. Lead study author Dr. Dan Kaufman highlights the significance of this discovery, emphasizing the challenges posed by the immunosuppressive nature of solid tumors like HCC. By disabling the receptor for TGF-β in stem cell-derived NK cells, researchers observed a significant improvement in antitumour activity and survival rates. The modified NK cells exhibited remarkable effectiveness in combating cancer cells, offering hope for enhanced treatment outcomes in HCC patients. This groundbreaking research underscores the potential of genetically modified NK-cell therapy as a game-changer in the fight against hepatocellular carcinoma. #HCC #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy 🌟

As treatments for colorectal cancer continue to improve, a significant proportion of patients (approximately 30-50%) still face the risk of fatal cancer relapse. Researchers have delved into the genetic aspects of colorectal cancer to understand why some cases recur. However, existing methods overlook subtle patterns in gene activity linked to relapse. To address this challenge, we employed a methodology involving consensus-independent component analysis. By diving deeper into gene activity, we uncovered potential biological processes associated with colorectal cancer relapse. These findings can pave the way for more effective treatments for patients battling this disease. The paper is now published at Communications Medicine: https://lnkd.in/gPU5MMAa Daan Knapen Sara Hone López Derk Jan Groot de Elisabeth (Liesbeth) de Vries Rodrigo Dienstmann Steven De Jong Rudolf Fehrmann #oncology #transcriptomics #spatialtranscriptomics #bioinformatics #machinelearning

Scientists have discovered the relationship between the RNF114B gene and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinomas and their resistance to chemotherapy. The study, by Etna Abad and led by Ana Janic, a principal investigator at the MELIS-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, was done with the participation of colleagues at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), another of the PRBB centres. Read more about the role of this gene in the #PRBBellipse article below 👇 #cancer #lungcancer #adenocarcinoma #chemotherapy https://lnkd.in/eQG-iN9M

Exciting new research on Gallbladder cancer (GBC) sheds light on potential breakthroughs in treatment! A recent study explores the role of Bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9) in GBC, revealing its elevated expression in GBC tissues and its correlation with poor patient prognosis. The study's findings suggest that BRD9 could serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for GBC, offering hope for improved outcomes. Check out the full study here: https://lnkd.in/ehc3999s #GallbladderCancer #BRD9 #MedicalResearch #CancerTreatment #TherapeuticTarget