New Delhi: Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive type of cancerous brain tumor in adults, poses significant treatment challenges despite available options like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma typically have a life expectancy of only 12–18 months post-diagnosis.

Researchers at IIT Delhi have given such patients a ray of hope with their study, published in the prestigious journal Biomaterials, possibly discovering a novel treatment to cure brain tumors. (Research paper link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961224002229)

Working under the guidance of Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor, Centre for Biomedical Engineering, IIT Delhi; a PhD student named Vidit Gaur primarily conducted the study. 

Vidit developed a novel nanoformulation, namely Immunosomes, that combines a CD40 agonist antibody with the small molecule inhibitor RRX-001. This innovative approach aims to enhance treatment efficacy for brain tumors, potentially offering new hope for improving outcomes in glioblastoma patients.

In this study, mice bearing glioblastoma treated with Immunosomes showed complete eradication of the tumor and remained tumor-free for at least three months. Additionally, this treatment generated a strong host immune response to fight against brain cancer.

After three months, Dr. Bhattacharyya and his team re-challenged the long-term surviving mice by implanting glioblastoma cells. Surprisingly, the mice pre-treated with Immunosomes showed near-no tumor growth, revealing that Immunosomes could generate long-lasting immune memory that can prevent future tumor recurrence without further treatment.

In addition to producing long-lasting protection against glioblastoma, treatment with Immunosomes can reduce the toxicity associated with CD40 agonist antibody, which otherwise presents a significant challenge for clinicians globally.

“We are highly motivated by these results, and are excited to translate these findings to human clinical trials with a wider range of glioblastoma patients,” said Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor, Centre for Biomedical Engineering, IIT Delhi.

The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India, and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi funded the research.

Photo: Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharyya (Left); PhD Scholar Vidit Gaur (Right)

ENDS