Pancreatic tumours can shrink with implant
Tiny device could mean a more focused therapy
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Researchers are attacking one of the most aggressive forms of cancer by bringing the battle to the heart of the disease.
The technique, detailed in the journal Advanced Science, uses an implantable device smaller than a grain of rice to deliver immunotherapy directly into pancreatic tumours.
The device, which can deliver sustained doses of CD40 monoclonal antibodies (mab), reduced tumours in mice models despite using a fourfold lower dosage than what is required for traditional immunotherapy.
“One of the most exciting findings was that even though the NDES device was only inserted in one of two tumours in the same animal model, we noted shrinkage in the tumour without the device,” said Corrine Ying Xuan Chua, co-corresponding author of the study and an assistant professor of nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Academic Institute. “This means that local treatment with immunotherapy was able to activate the immune response to target other tumours.
“In fact, one animal model remained tumour-free for the 100 days of continued observation.”
The pancreas is a small organ located behind the stomach that produces enzymes and hormones that help the body break down food and convert it into energy. Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to detect because symptoms usually only appear once tumours have begun to take a toll on the body.
Just under 7,000 Canadians were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, with roughly 5,700 patients succumbing to the disease. While patient prognosis can vary depending on how early the cancer is detected, the five-year net survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 10 per cent in Canada.
Immunotherapy is commonly used to tackle cancers that have few other treatment options available. But because the therapy is delivered throughout the body, it carries the risk of side-effects that can last a lifetime. If the treatment area can be narrowed to the site of a tumour, however, the body will be largely spared from exposure to toxic chemicals. This means patients can expect fewer side-effects and better quality of life during treatment.
“Our goal is to transform the way cancer is treated,” said Alessandro Grattoni, co-corresponding author and chair of the department of nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute. “We see this device as a viable approach to penetrating the pancreatic tumour in a minimally invasive and effective manner, allowing for a more focused therapy using less medication.”
The NDES (or nanofluidic drug-eluting seed) device includes a stainless-steel reservoir containing nanochannels that allow for the sustained diffusion of CD40 monoclonal antibodies, a promising immunotherapeutic agent. The device is designed to be used over the long-term, meaning patients can avoid the repeated infusions — and corresponding side-effects — that can accompany traditional immunotherapy.
Although more research is required, the team hopes the device becomes a viable option for cancer patients within the next five years.