Fully Human Antibody Targeting Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Type 2 (TNFR2) for Cancer Immunotherapy

Tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (TNFR2)-expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs), present in the tumor microenvironment, play an important role in tumor immune evasion. TNFR2 plays a crucial role in stimulating the activation and proliferation of Tregs, a major checkpoint of antitumor immune responses. In addition to its expression on Tregs, TNFR2 is also known to be overexpressed on some types of tumors and the survival and growth of these tumor cells is promoted by ligands of TNFR2.

Therapeutic Antitumor Combination Containing TLR4 Agonist HMGN1

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. CTLA-4, PD-L1) have recently shown significant promise in the treatment of cancer.  However, when used alone, these checkpoint inhibitors are limited by the absence or repression of immune cells within the targeted cancer.  For those cancers associated with these limited immune systems, there remains a need for effective therapies.  Agents capable of recruiting and activating immune cells to these types of cancers could extend the overall and complete response rates of combination therapies within the immunooncology domain. 

Anti-Viral Compounds that Inhibit HIV Activity

Several novel tropolone derivatives have been identified that inhibit HIV-1 RNase H function and have potential for anti-viral activity due to reduced cellular toxicity.  Inhibiting RNase H function is a potential treatment for many viral infections, since RNase H function is essential for viral replication for many pathogenic retroviruses such as HIV-1 and HIV-2.  Although many hydroxytropolone compounds are potent RNase H inhibitors biding at the enzymatic active site, they are limited as therapeutic candidates by their toxicity in mammalian cells.  The toxicity thought to

A Novel Carbohydrate Antibody to GalNac1-3Gal and Its Application for Cancer Diagnostic and Prognosis

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Currently, physical descriptors such as tumor size and depth are the primary factors used for deciding the course of treatment. Despite significant efforts to identify prognostic biochemical markers or therapeutic targets to improve diagnosis and treatment, none have achieved routine clinical use. An example of one previously identified biomarker is the Tn antigen, a carbohydrate moiety composed of a GalNAc residue linked to serine or threonine.

Polypeptides for Stimulation of Immune Response (Adjuvants)

HMGN polypeptides belong to the high mobility group (HMG) family of chromosomal binding peptides. HMGN polypeptides typically function inside the cell nucleus to bind to DNA and nucleosomes and regulate the transcription of various genes. HMGN polypeptides also can be released by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, the extracellular release of a HMGN polypeptide initiates activation of the immune system. Therefore, it has potential use as a biological therapeutic for stimulating an immune response.

Methods of Detecting Loss of Heterozygosity and Damaging Mutations in Immune-Related Genes Using Liquid Biopsies

Summary: 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks co-development partners and/or licensees for a liquid biopsy diagnostic assay capable of detecting loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and somatic mutations in genes important for antigen processing and presentation and interferon-γ response pathways.