IMP321 an immunosuppressant against the LAG3 (lymphocyte activation gene-3) target, has shown good efficacy in clinical studies of advanced breast cancer, doubling the remission rate in combination with paclitaxel (Paclitaxel) compared to paclitaxel alone. This article takes a look at how IMP321 works as an anti-tumor agent.
How does IMP321 work against tumors? Activating T cells
When a tumor occurs, our body can generate a series of immune responses to fight tumor progression, creating a “microenvironment” around the tumor that produces multiple immune cells to inhibit tumor cell growth. Immunotherapy is a way to target and stimulate the body’s own ability to fight tumor cells and indirectly kill them.
LAG-3 is one of these targets. LAG-3 specifically inhibits the activation of T cells. Therefore, inhibition of LAG- 3 can enhance the killing effect on tumors.
IMP321 as a LAG3 inhibitor, enhances the body’s immune capacity to fight tumors by reducing the effect of LAG- 3 on T cell activation.
How effective is IMP321 against breast cancer? Nearly doubled remission rates in chemotherapy patients
IMP321 is still in the early stages of clinical use, and in clinical studies in breast cancer, IMP321 combined with chemotherapy has yielded good results.
12 patients with advanced breast cancer who were given low doses of IMP321 during first-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel provided a better enhancement of immune function. And, no serious adverse reactions associated with IMP321 were observed to occur in the study, and the combination of low-dose IMP321 with chemotherapy was well tolerated.
In a study that included 30 patients with advanced breast cancer, the combination of IMP321 and paclitaxel performed better. 50% remission rates were achieved with the combination of IMP321 and paclitaxel, which was 2 times higher than with paclitaxel alone (only 25% with paclitaxel alone). And, there was a clinical benefit in 90% of patients, with only 3 patients experiencing disease progression at 6 months. This suggests that IMP321 may be useful as a new agent to enhance the effects of chemotherapy in combination with paclitaxel.
More clinical studies are underway
There are ongoing clinical studies of IMP321 in advanced breast cancer.IMP321 in combination with paclitaxel in HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-negative metastatic breast cancer (trial number NCT02614833) is expected to be completed in 2019 and looks forward to the publication of its subsequent results.
Summary
IMP 321 s application to breast cancer is still in the early stages of small-scale research exploration. In advanced breast cancer, “partnering” with chemotherapy can increase efficacy and double remission rates. We will have to wait and see if this pair can be “officially approved” in more convincing studies.