Research Reveals New Immunotherapy Controls Osteosarcoma Growth

Osteosarcoma is a very rare bone cancer that usually affects about 160 teenagers every year in the U.K. It is very hard to treat and increases the risk of death. But researchers from the University College London (UCL) found an effective treatment for treating people with this cancer. They have developed a new type of immunotherapy.  

This study was published in Science Translational Medicine. In this study, researchers used immune cells known as gamma-delta T cells (gdT cells). These cells were made from the blood of healthy people. These cells have the natural ability to fight against cancer. They can effectively attack cancer cells and destroy them.  

In this study, researchers collected blood from healthy people. Then they collected gdT cells and modified them to produce tumor targeting antibodies and chemicals called cytokines. This chemical stimulates the immune system. These cells are then injected into patients with bone cancer. This new treatment method is known as OPS-gdT. Researchers tested this treatment in mice who had bone cancer. 

When researchers observed the collected data, they found that OPS-gdT cells controlled the growth of osteosarcoma effectively. It worked better than traditional immunotherapy. They also tested different treatments on those mice such as untreated gdT cells, CAR-T cells, an anti-tumor antibody and OPS-gdT cells with a drug that strengthens bones. When they observed the results of these treatments, they found that the combination of OPS-gdT cells and bone-strengthening drug was very effective in controlling this cancer. It stopped the growth of tumor and kept treated mice healthy for three months.  

One of the researchers says that current immunotherapies like CAR-T use a patient’s own immune system. But this process is very expensive and takes a long time. This can increase the risk of death as patients usually need to wait. This immunotherapy works effectively only for leukemia. On the other hand, it does not treat osteosarcoma effectively. But gdT is very affordable and works very effectively.  

The result of this study clearly shows that OPS-gdT cells immunotherapy effectively treats people with osteosarcoma. So, healthcare professionals should use this treatment to treat people with this cancer effectively. They can make some effective strategies to save many lives.  

Reference Link: 

Daniel Fowler et al, Payload-delivering engineered γδ T cells display enhanced cytotoxicity, persistence, and efficacy in preclinical models of osteosarcoma, Science Translational Medicine (2024).  

DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg9814.