Soluble Beta-Glucan Modulation of Tumor Microenvironment Immunosuppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer therapies struggle to effectively target and modify the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is immunosuppressive and promotes tumor growth.
Innovation Solution
The use of soluble β-glucan in combination with anti-cancer agents, such as checkpoint inhibitors and anti-angiogenic agents, to modulate the TME by enhancing immunostimulatory functions and reducing immunosuppressive functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cancer therapies are used, then tumor cells are targeted, but the tumor microenvironment remains immunosuppressive and promotes tumor growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses β-glucan as an intermediary substance that binds to CR3 receptors on innate immune cells (neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages) to modulate their function. This intermediary mechanism allows the therapy to indirectly affect the tumor microenvironment by reprogramming immune cells rather than directly targeting tumor cells or immunosuppressive factors, thereby resolving the contradiction between anti-tumor activity and immunosuppression
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the functional parameters of immune cells in the TME by administering β-glucan, which alters the phenotype and activity of CR3-positive cells. This parameter change transforms the immunosuppressive state into an immunostimulatory state, enabling the immune system to effectively combat tumor growth while maintaining the benefits of conventional therapies
2Reliability
If the tumor microenvironment is modified to enhance immunostimulation, then anti-tumor activity increases, but the complexity of the therapy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs β-glucan, a single universal agent that can work with multiple different anti-cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy). This multi-functional approach allows modification of the TME to enhance immunostimulation without requiring separate complex intervention systems for each therapy type, thereby increasing anti-tumor activity while minimizing therapy complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This combination therapy significantly reduces tumor growth, improves overall survival, and enhances the anti-tumor activity of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies by altering the balance of the TME towards immunostimulation.
Implementation Method 1
β-glucan is a fungal PAMP and is recognized by pattern recognition molecule C3 in the serum as well as pattern recognition receptor, complement receptor 3 (CR3) on the innate immune cells
Implementation Method 2
β-glucan enables innate immune effector cells to kill complement-coated tumor cells through a complement CR3-dependent mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to the combination of soluble β-glucan and immune suppression-relieving agents that affect the tumor microenvironment. Soluble β-glucan promotes an immunostimulatory environment, which allows enhanced effectiveness of anti-angiogenics, checkpoint inhibitors including non-tumor targeting antibodies.