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The BioMAP team at UMR ISP University of Tours -INRAe 1282 has developed a new innovative immunotherapeutic treatment against cancer based on the use of the protozoan, Neospora caninum, a unicellular, intracellular eukaryotic organism that is non-infectious to humans. Their studies have shown the efficacy of this agent in anti-tumor immunotherapy. In fact, very strong tumor regressions have been observed in a mouse model of thymic lymphoma and in a human tumor model following intratumoral or remote injection of this protozoan. The mechanisms of action involve lysis of tumor cells, activation of the innate and adaptive immune system and disruption of immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment followed by complete elimination of the agent. These protection results were optimised through the construction of a strain of N. caninum capable of secreting human IL-15 associated with the alpha subunit of its receptor leading to total and permanent disappearance of the tumors. These results highlight the anticancer potential of N. caninum as an extremely efficient and non-toxic immunotherapeutic agent capable of being genetically modified in order to surface express or secrete biological biomedicines. This innovative research technology identifies the possibilities of clinical use of Neospora caninum as an oncolytic protozoan in human medicine that could contribute to the current renewal of anti-cancer therapies and improve the quality of life of patients.

(Funding: AAP ARD 2020, League against cancer)

Link : https://pharma.univ-tours.fr/version-francaise/recherche/accueil-actualites/neospora-caninum-une-nouvelle-classe-de-biomedicaments-dans-larsenal-therapeutique-dans-contre-le-cancer