Targeted Immunotherapy for Melanoma
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a new method for cancer treatment that has demonstrated success in curing disease in a fraction of treated melanoma patients. To broaden the benefits of immunotherapy across the melanoma patient population, drug accumulation and bioactivity with tumor-draining lymph nodes, tissues that play an important role in anti-tumor immune response, should be increased. Additionally, the combined effects of multiple immunotherapy drugs with different but synergistic activities could also improve treatment efficacy. The goal of this proposal is to therefore determine whether melanoma immunotherapy can be improved via lymph node drug targeting and to evaluate the effects of treatment with multiple immunotherapeutic agents. This will be accomplished using an advanced preclinical model of melanoma and leveraging an innovative lymph node targeting nanoparticle formulation developed by the Principal Investigator (PI). The PI s career goal is to become established as a nationally and internationally recognized scientific leader in melanoma immunotherapy with continued lines of research funding who develops innovative and clinically translatable approaches for the treatment of advanced skin malignancies. Her long-term objective is to cure melanoma by improving the efficacy of immunotherapy and preventing disease recurrence while minimizing treatment-associated toxicities. The proposed training plan will advance her career by providing structured mentorship from a team of internationally recognized experts in both melanoma and immunotherapy research, clinical training in melanoma treatment protocols, and periodic career development feedback as well as establishing her national professional network in the melanoma immunotherapy community. Immunotherapy has the potential to be as effective in treating the primary melanoma as disseminated micrometastases. Immunotherapy could therefore provide significant benefit to patients with early as well as advanced melanoma. This research will inform how the efficacy of clinically available immunotherapeutic drugs can be improved via either targeted delivery or combination therapy with high potential benefit and minimal risk. This research also has high promise to impact melanoma treatment protocols to improve clinical outcomes well within the next decade. This research will determine the benefit of lymph node drug targeting and identify the potential synergistic benefits of targeted combination immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma. Melanoma disproportionately affects U.S. Military beneficiaries, suggesting a role for military service-related exposure to carcinogens. These include chemicals as well as ultraviolet radiation from high sun exposure and equatorial latitude of combat mission localities. Novel approaches to treat patients with advanced melanoma disease and prevent disease recurrence will thus significantly benefit active duty Service members, their families, and other military beneficiaries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1610518
Entities
People
- Susan N Thomas
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Army