Combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy to fight Glioblastoma Multiforme

Incysus Therapeutics, Inc., a Birmingham-based biopharmaceutical company, spin-off of the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) has announced a phase 1 clinical trial of a new drug-resistant immunotherapy (DRI) for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. This clinical trial is underway at the UAB and is currently recruiting patients.

We know that glioblastoma multiforme is intrinsically resistant to conventional therapy.

Incysus’ innovative DRI approach seeks to combine conventional chemotherapy with immunotherapy based on T γδ cells to modify the tumor microenvironment and guide the immune system. Using alkylating agents such as temozolomide, chemotherapy can activate an immune response by upregulating the DNA damage response path (DDR). However, these chemotherapies also kill the white blood cells needed to stimulate an immune response. Incysus’ technology “protects the chemistry” of immune cells to allow them to remain active while activating DDR creates an immune signal that ensures the immune system works against cancer cells.

As stated by Dr. L. Burt Nabors, MD, co-head of neuro-oncology at the UAB and principal investigator of the clinical study, this clinical study can be identified as a significant milestone towards the development of effective immune therapies for GBM treatment.

We hope this approach will work because it is evident that a fully functional immune system is important for healing from any pathology, as we sadly see these days, at the time of Covid-19.