Helena Florindo, Rita Acúrcio, Rita Guedes – Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa – e Ronit Satchi Fainaro – Tel Aviv University – are the names behind the findings about the molecule capable to stimulate patient’s own immune cells to fight against multiple types of cancer.
Rita Acúrcio, the first author of this study, used computational and bioinformatic resources to find molecules capable of inhibiting the PD-L1/PD-1 interaction. These proteins prevent T lymphocytes from acting against tumoral cellules. These molecules were able to control of tumor growth, similarly to the antibody used in the clinic, in addition to an extensive infiltration of active immune cells within the solid mass of this tumor.
This work has been funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (FCT-MCTES), La Caixa Foundation, Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro – Núcleo Regional do Sul, European Research Council (ERC), Israel Science Foundation, Melanoma Research Alliance, Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) e a Fundação Morris Kahn Foundation.
More information here.
This study has been published at Journal for Immuno Therapy of Cancer.
