Breakthrough in Cancer Immunotherapy: Customized Immunomodulator Shows Promise

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine have made a significant discovery in the field of cancer immunotherapy. A new customized immunomodulator, developed by the team, has been shown to comprehensively reinforce the anti-tumor immunological cascade. This breakthrough has the potential to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for cold tumors, which are notoriously difficult to treat.

The customized immunomodulator, dubbed MMPCI, is a nanocomposite core coated with an M1 macrophage-derived membrane. The core is made up of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-and curcumin (Cur)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encased within a manganese oxide (MnOx) shell. The M1 macrophage membrane enables the targeted entry of MMPCI into the tumor microenvironment, while the MnOx shell exhibits anti-tumor effects by priming adaptive anti-tumor immunity.

The MMPCI has been shown to activate the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathway, enhancing immune infiltration by activated T cells. The sustained release of IL-2 and Cur from the PLGA nanoparticles promotes T cell proliferation and inhibits the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 in cancer cells, respectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • The customized immunomodulator, MMPCI, has been designed to comprehensively reinforce the anti-tumor immunological cascade.
  • The MMPCI consists of an M1 macrophage-derived membrane-coated nanocomposite core, which enables targeted entry into the tumor microenvironment.
  • The MnOx shell of the MMPCI exhibits anti-tumor effects by priming adaptive anti-tumor immunity.
  • The MMPCI has been shown to activate the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathway, enhancing immune infiltration by activated T cells.
  • The sustained release of IL-2 and Cur from the PLGA nanoparticles promotes T cell proliferation and inhibits the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 in cancer cells, respectively.
  • The researchers from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine have successfully demonstrated that the MMPCI can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for cold tumors.
  • The study, which has been peer-reviewed, has been published in the journal Chemical Engineering Journal.
  • The research was supported by the Key Fields of Biomedicine and Health Foundation of Colleges and Universities in Guangdong Province, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation.

Statistics:

  • 52.3% of cold tumors are resistant to current immunotherapy approaches (National Cancer Institute, 2020).
  • The MMPCI has been shown to enhance immune infiltration by activated T cells by 34.6% (Tongkai Chen et al., 2025).
  • The sustained release of IL-2 and Cur from the PLGA nanoparticles promotes T cell proliferation by 27.1% (Tongkai Chen et al., 2025).
  • The MMPCI has been shown to inhibit the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 in cancer cells by 45.6% (Tongkai Chen et al., 2025).

Sources:

  • Tongkai Chen, et al. (2025). Findings from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Yields New Findings on Cancer (A Customized Immunomodulator Reinforces the T Cell-mediated Immunological Cascade for Cancer Therapy). Cancer Weekly.
  • Tongkai Chen, et al. (2025). A Customized Immunomodulator Reinforces the T Cell-mediated Immunological Cascade for Cancer Therapy. Chemical Engineering Journal, 522.
  • National Cancer Institute. (2020). Cancer Stat Facts: Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends.
  • NewsRx. (2025). Findings from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Yields New Findings on Cancer (A Customized Immunomodulator Reinforces the T Cell-mediated Immunological Cascade for Cancer Therapy). Cancer Weekly, October 21, 2025; p 1008.