Scientists led by researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) have developed new technology that accurately predicts and monitors the response of cancer patients to immunotherapy, the VUB said in a press release on Thursday.
The new technology makes it possible to determine in advance whether immunotherapy is indicated.
Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that stimulates the patient's immune system to attack tumors, but its effectiveness varies from patient to patient.
Thanks to an innovative tracer based on small nanobodies, researchers can determine the extent to which macrophages (immune cells that help tumors to grow and protect themselves) are present in the tumor.
A large number of macrophages in the tumor indicates that it is more resistant to immunotherapy, making the treatment less effective.
The tracer also offers additional advantages in that it is safe and does not interfere with the immune system. It can also be used to rapidly evaluate therapies by mapping the location of macrophages, according to the researchers.
Finally, the technology can be used to treat inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and arthritis.
Professor Nick Devoogdt, head of the Molecular Imaging and Therapy (MITH) research group, points out that the discovery represents an important step towards personalised medicine.
"This technology allows us to tailor therapies to individual patients' needs, making treatments more effective," he says.
Professor Jo Van Ginderachter of the VIB Center for Inflammation Research and the Brussels Center for Immunology adds that the technology "opens up new perspectives, not only in oncology, but also in other diseases involving the immune system."
