Modified Tumor-Derived Exosomes for Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Colorectal cancer (CRC) tumors are often nonimmunogenic and unresponsive to current immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies due to immunosuppressive factors present in tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Innovation Solution

Modified tumor-derived EVs isolated from tumor cells with reduced or lacking expression of immune suppressive factors, such as miR-424, are used to enhance immune response against tumors. These EVs can be used as a vaccine or in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapies to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tumor-derived EVs are used to stimulate tumor-specific immunity, then immune response is enhanced, but immunosuppressive factors (PD-L1, miRNAs) in the EVs compromise the immune stimulation effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response efficacyVSAvoidimmunosuppressive factors in EVs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes immunosuppressive factors (PD-L1, miRNAs) from tumor-derived EVs through selective isolation methods, producing purified EVs that contain tumor antigens but lack harmful immunosuppressive components. This extraction process enables the EVs to effectively stimulate tumor-specific immunity without being compromised by their own immunosuppressive factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the composition and properties of tumor-derived EVs by changing key parameters such as purity, concentration of tumor antigens, and absence of immunosuppressive factors. Through controlled isolation and characterization, the EVs are transformed from immunosuppressive-containing forms to purified forms that enhance immune response efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If 85% of CRC tumors are nonimmunogenic and lack tumor-infiltrating T cells, then current immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies become unresponsive, but the invention aims to increase immune response to these tumors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse to immune checkpoint inhibitorsVSAvoidnonimmunogenicity of CRC tumors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by using tumor-derived EVs as a vaccine to pre-stimulate the immune system before the actual tumor treatment. The EVs contain tumor antigens that can prime T cells and enhance immune surveillance, making the immune system more responsive to subsequent immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, thereby overcoming the nonimmunogenic state of CRC tumors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If immunosuppressive components are present in tumor-derived EVs, then tumor immunity stimulating effects are compromised, but removing these components requires complex isolation and characterization processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetumor immunity stimulationVSAvoidisolation and characterization process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex EV isolation process into distinct, manageable steps: EV extraction, purification, characterization, and functional validation. Each step focuses on specific aspects such as removing immunosuppressive factors, verifying purity, and confirming biological activity. This segmented approach makes the complex process of producing immunosuppressive-free EVs more systematic and reproducible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4090322B1Tumor cell-derived exosomes and method of treating colorectal cancer
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
  • EP4090322B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP4090322B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2G
  • EP4090322B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3G

AI summary

The present invention provides tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) lacking an immune suppressive factor, for example, miR-424, methods of making and methods of use for treating cancer. Further the present invention provide vaccine compositions comprising modified tumor-derived EVs for use in treating secondary tumors.