IL-2 Therapy Patient Selection via Tumor Molecular Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapies for cancer, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, often face resistance, and there is a need to better understand the mechanisms driving this resistance.

Innovation Solution

The use of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy, combined with pre-treatment tumor molecular analysis, including RNA sequencing, to identify specific immune markers and myeloid inflammation markers that predict response to IL-2 therapy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat cancer, then immune response is enhanced, but treatment resistance develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidresistance to therapy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces IL-2 as an intermediary substance that mediates between the immune system and cancer cells. IL-2 acts as a signaling molecule that enhances T cell activation and proliferation, working in conjunction with checkpoint inhibitors to overcome resistance. The molecular markers identified (such as PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4) serve as intermediaries that indicate the immune microenvironment's responsiveness to therapy, allowing selection of patients who will benefit from IL-2 based treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If IL-2 therapy is administered to all cancer patients, then potential responders are treated, but treatment specificity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverageVSAvoidpatient selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary molecular analysis of tumor tissue before administering IL-2 therapy. By measuring the expression levels of specific markers (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, TGF-β, IFN-γ) in pretreatment biopsy samples, the method identifies patients who are most likely to respond to IL-2 therapy. This preliminary screening ensures that treatment is directed toward the right patients, improving both the precision of patient selection and the overall effectiveness of the therapy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If molecular analysis is performed on all patients, then treatment prediction accuracy improves, but diagnostic complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse prediction accuracyVSAvoiddiagnostic procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex molecular analysis into specific, targeted measurements of key markers rather than comprehensive genomic profiling. The focus is on measuring expression levels of a defined panel of markers (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, TGF-β, IFN-γ) that have been identified as most predictive of IL-2 response. This segmented approach maintains high prediction accuracy while reducing diagnostic complexity compared to whole-genome or transcriptome sequencing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250075276A1Methods for selecting subjects and treating cancer with il-2 therapy

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 SANOFI SA(FR)

AI summary

Described herein are methods for treating a cancer in a subject, the method comprising administering an IL-2 therapy to the subject, wherein in a sample from the subject, a set of markers has elevated expression or decreased expression.