Scientific communications

Immunotherapy-based anti-cancer strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors promote antitumor immune response driven by the mobilization of effector immune cell activity and/or reversal of immunosuppressive mechanisms.

Relying on our validated in vitro immune cell activation assay based on the HTRF quantitation of key cytokine release, we recently documented functional characterization of PD1 blockade.

Syngeneic tumor models were becoming invaluable for preclinical development and evaluation of immuno-based therapies in the presence of a functional immunocompetent system. Explicyte is providing a series of syngeneic mouse models including subcutaneous and orthotopic models, which were fully characterized in terms of their responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and their immune infiltration features using a high throughput-compatible flow cytometry platform.

We are proud to offer a first in vitro shuttle session on our newly validated M2 macrophage suppression assay, which will take place early June, 2019 – thereby providing an opportunity to timely and cost-effectively assess novel immunotherapeutics.

Our newly validated M2 suppression assay based on i) the co-culture of autologous monocyte-derived M2 macrophages and activated CD4+ T cells (or PBMCs) and on ii) the quantitation of IFNg levels as surrogate of T cell activation, is specifically designed to assess new immunotherapeutics for their modulatory activity on the phenotype and function of M2 macrophages. 

Candidate compounds can thus be evaluated as single agents or in combinatorial treatments, for their potential to repolarize / switch M2 macrophages and to antagonize M2-mediated T cell suppression.

Syngeneic tumor models were becoming invaluable for preclinical development and evaluation of immuno-based therapies. Nevertheless, the immunometabolic features of these tumors models, which may likely underlie responsiveness to immunotherapies, are still not well understood and become thus primordial to be defined for tumor model characterization and selection of the appropriate ones, for target validation, drug development, and assessment of the efficacy potential of drug candidates.

Explicyte is planning a new in vivo shuttle session by early March, thereby providing an opportunity to cost-effectively assess your drug candidates in our well-suited immunocompetent syngeneic subcutaneously-implanted tumor models, over studies where a significant cost part will be supported by ourselves.

Besides their antimicrobial functions, neutrophils are likely infiltrating many types of tumors and increasing evidence correlate the tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) with poor clinical outcome thereby supporting their role in tumor development. Recruitment of such TANs is indeed driven by key chemokines including the prototypical CXCL8 (IL8) or CXCL1 produced by tumor cells or its microenvironment. In turns, TANs might be involved in the recruitment of other immune cell populations (eg. Tregs, TAMs, etc), all together maintaining the local immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore acting on neutrophil recruitment and migration represents a valuable cancer immunotherapy strategy.

To get the opportunity to cost-effectively assess your drug candidates in our well-suited immunocompetent syngeneic model, do not miss our new in vivo glioblastoma shuttle session by mid-January 2019, in which a cost part will be supported by Explicyte.

The immunological synapse that occurs between T lymphocytes and Dendritic cells (DCs) is a key component of an effective immune response and is controlled by a combination of stimulatory and inhibitory signals – also called immune checkpoints. As to trigger a better anti-tumor immune response, interventions through a fine-tuning of these control signals within the immunological synapse represent one of the most promising cancer immunotherapy strategies.