Researchers at the University of Queensland are developing nanotechnology that could enhance the effectiveness of treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease.
Led by Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), the research team is working on novel nanoparticles designed to improve immunotherapy outcomes for TNBC patients.
TNBC accounts for 30 per cent of all breast cancer-related deaths in Australia each year, despite comprising only 10 to 15 per cent of new diagnoses.
Professor Yu said TNBC poses unique challenges because its cancer cells lack the proteins targeted by conventional therapies used in other forms of breast cancer.
“Despite the promise of immunotherapy, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as a potential treatment option for TNBC is extremely limited,” he said.
“This means therapies that might help to treat melanoma, for example, will not work with TNBC.”
Supported by a $3 million Investigator grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the team aims to develop a ‘nano-adjuvant’ that could enhance TNBC patients’ immune response to treatments.
The nanoparticle technology would function at a microscopic level to strengthen the effectiveness of T-cells, which are critical in the body’s immune defence against diseases.
“The particles we are designing will essentially work inside the tumour microenvironment, including TNBC cancer cells and important immune cells, to boost the body’s immune response to attack and defeat TNBC cells,” Professor Yu said.
“With the right combination of iron-based nanoparticles and substances that can trigger programmed cell death, we hope the nano-adjuvant will be able to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy treatment.”
The research is set to continue over the next five years, with hopes of advancing the technology toward clinical applications to bridge a critical gap in cancer treatment.
“The versatility of this nano-adjuvant could also lend itself to application for other advanced solid tumours that require enhanced T-cell recognition – such as ovarian cancer,” Professor Yu said.
The project builds on Professor Yu’s extensive background in nanotechnology and nanomedicine, including innovations in nanoparticle development, drug delivery, and understanding the interaction between nanoparticles and cells.
The research team aims to provide new solutions that could potentially reshape treatment options for aggressive cancers.
