Sentinel Lymph Node Lymphocyte Extraction for Cancer Immunotherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer immunotherapy methods face limitations, including high toxicity from administered substances and low success rates due to the difficulty in isolating and expanding lymphocytes with tumor-specific activity, particularly those from peripheral blood or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, which are present in low numbers and susceptible to immunosuppressive tumor factors.
Innovation Solution
The method involves obtaining lymphocytes from sentinel lymph nodes, which are then activated and expanded in vitro using specific techniques such as CD marker selection, cytokine stimulation, and antigen presentation to enhance their tumor-specific activity, allowing for a more effective cellular immunotherapy approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lymphocytes are obtained from peripheral blood or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, then immunotherapy can be performed, but the success rate is low due to low numbers and immunosuppressive tumor factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates lymphocytes specifically from sentinel lymph nodes, separating them from the general lymphocyte population in peripheral blood. This extraction focuses on obtaining the specific subset of tumor-reactive lymphocytes that have been primed by tumor antigens, thereby increasing the concentration of effective cells for therapy while avoiding the limitations of peripheral blood sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sentinel lymph nodes as an intermediary source between the primary tumor and peripheral blood. These nodes contain lymphocytes that have been exposed to tumor antigens and are actively responding to the tumor, making them an ideal intermediate source for obtaining high-quality, tumor-specific lymphocytes for adoptive cell transfer therapy.
2Reliability
If anti-neoplastic drugs are administered to prevent cell division, then tumor spread is reduced, but toxicity affects all fast proliferating cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing the immunotherapy specifically at tumor-reactive lymphocytes rather than systemically affecting all fast-proliferating cells. The expanded and activated lymphocytes are infused back into the patient to specifically target tumor cells, providing localized anti-tumor activity without the broad toxicity of conventional chemotherapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the patient's own immune system, which normally tolerates tumor antigens, into a beneficial force against the tumor. By isolating, expanding, and reinfusing tumor-reactive lymphocytes, the therapy transforms the body's natural immune response into a targeted weapon against cancer cells, avoiding the harmful side effects of chemotherapy.
3Quantity of substance
If lymphocytes are expanded in vitro, then their numbers increase, but their tumor-specific activity may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-activating and expanding the lymphocytes in vitro before infusion, using tumor antigens or mitogens to stimulate proliferation while maintaining tumor-specificity. This preliminary expansion ensures sufficient cell numbers for therapy while preserving the functional characteristics of the lymphocytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by using culture conditions that continuously stimulate lymphocyte proliferation while preserving their tumor-reactive phenotype. The in vitro expansion process is designed to maintain the functional integrity and specific activity of the lymphocytes throughout the culture period.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel method of cancer immuno-therapy and to a kit for use in this method. Specifically, the present invention relates to a novel method of collecting lymphocytes from sentinel lumph nodes and in vitro culture for the multiplication thereof lymphocytes.