Therapeutic and toxicological effects of OncoTherad (MRB-CFI-1) immunotherapy in patients with BCG-refractory or relapsed non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

• Grant number: 20/03419-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2020
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Wagner José Fávaro
• Grantee: Wagner José Fávaro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Athanase Billis ; João Carlos Cardoso Alonso ; Nelson Eduardo Duran Caballero

Abstract

Bladder cancer (BC) represents the second most common malignant disease of the urinary tract, and one of the neoplasms that have the highest costs for the Unified Health System. The primary treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is based on surgical treatment using transurethral resection, followed by intravesical immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), to reduce recurrence and prevent tumor progression. However, the use of BCG is associated with side effects of varying intensities, from mild irritative symptoms to severe systemic reaction, which contributes to the interruption of treatment, in addition to presenting a post-treatment recurrence rate of up to 30%. The surgical option, partial or total cystectomy, is often associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. In addition, for some patients, cystectomy is not an available option due to the presence of concomitant comorbidities. In Brazil, the manufacture and distribution of the OncoBCG vaccine suffers from constant interruptions. The lack of the OncoBCG vaccine can negatively impact the treatment of patients with bladder cancer. Thus, the development of new therapeutic modalities that prevent the progression of the disease, allow the preservation of the organ and the quality of life of patients and, finally, provide an option for those who are ineligible for cystectomy, is of fundamental importance. Considering the importance of developing drugs that can be administered intravesically and that act as modulators of the immune system, our research group developed a nanostructured synthetic compound with antitumor and immunological properties, called MRB-CFI-1 (Biological Response Modifier - Inorganic Phosphate Complex 1), or OncoTherad. The preclinical and clinical-veterinary studies of our group showed that in the treatment of chemically induced CBNMI in rodents and spontaneous in dogs, animals treated with OncoTherad showed significant inhibition of tumor progression in 70% - 80% of cases. In addition, our studies demonstrated that intravesical immunotherapy with OncoTherad led to distinct activation of the innate immune system mediated by TLRs 2 and 4, resulting in an increase in the signaling pathway for interferon, which is related to the greater effectiveness of this nanocomposite in the treatment of NMIBC compared to BCG treatment. Thus, the aims of this study are to evaluate the therapeutic effects of OncoTherad immunotherapy in patients with BCG-refractory or relapsed NMIBC, through analyzes of pathological complete response, relapse-free survival and progression, duration of response and time to disease recurrence during the 24-month follow-up. Moreover, this study aims to investigate the cellular mechanisms triggered by this therapy, as well as its possible local and systemic toxic effects. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

REIS, SABRINA KAREN; RABELO SOCCA, EDUARDO AUGUSTO; DE SOUZA, BIANCA RIBEIRO; GENARO, SANDRA CRISTINA; DURAN, NELSON; FAVARO, WAGNER JOSE. Effects of combined OncoTherad immunotherapy and probiotic supplementation on modulating the chronic inflammatory process in colorectal carcinogenesis. TISSUE & CELL, v. 75, p. 13-pg., 2022-04-01. (20/03419-6)

REIS, IANNY BRUM; SOARES TIBO, LUIZ HENRIQUE; DE SOUZA, BIANCA RIBEIRO; DURAN, NELSON; FAVARO, WAGNER JOSE. OncoTherad(R) is an immunomodulator of biological response that downregulate RANK/RANKL signaling pathway and PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2022-11-02. (18/10052-1, 20/03419-6)

ROSTON, JOSE RONALDO DE CASTRO; REIS, IANNY BRUM; LUZO, ANGELA CRISTINA MALHEIROS; ROSTON, MILENA OLIVIERI; DURAN, NELSON; FAVARO, WAGNER JOSE. Evaluation of the tissue repair process and immunomodulatory action of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the treatment of abdominal stretch marks. TISSUE & CELL, v. 83, p. 15-pg., 2023-08-01. (18/10052-1, 20/03419-6)

FERREIRA, FABIO F.; PEREIRA, ALINE P. C.; REIS, IANNY B.; SASAKI, BIANCA R. S.; FAVARO, WAGNER J.; DURAN, NELSON. Quantitative phase analysis of commercial ammonium phosphates by PXRD for application in biological systems. Powder Diffraction, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2023-05-18. (18/10052-1, 20/03419-6, 21/03640-7)

ALONSO, J. C. C.; MACIEL, M. C.; FERRARI, H. A.; GONCALVES, J. M.; SASAKI, B. R. S.; CINTRA, A. A.; DURAN, N.; BILLIS, A.; FAVARO, W. J.; IOP PUBLISHING. Safety and Efficacy of OncoTherad Nano-immunotherapy in Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, v. 1953, p. 10-pg., 2021-01-01. (18/10052-1, 20/03419-6)

FAVARO, W. J.; ALONSO, J. C. C.; DE SOUZA, B. R.; REIS, I. B.; GONCALVES, J. M.; DECKMANN, A. C.; OLIVEIRA, G.; DIAS, Q. C.; DURAN, N.. New synthetic nano-immunotherapy (OncoTherad?) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: Its synthesis, characterization and anticancer property. TISSUE & CELL, v. 80, p. 15-pg., 2023-02-01. (18/10052-1, 20/03419-6)