Immunocytokines (antibody-cytokine fusions)
Cytokines such as interleukin-2 or TNF fused to an antibody that homes to the tumour, aiming to concentrate the immune boost where it is needed and spare the rest of the body.
Overview
Systemic interleukin-2 and interferon were among the first cancer immunotherapies but were limited by severe toxicity. Immunocytokines fuse a cytokine to a tumour-targeting antibody or fragment so that it accumulates in tumour tissue; examples include L19-IL2 and L19-TNF (Philogen), which reached phase 3 in melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma, and engineered IL-2 and IL-12 variants with reduced systemic activity. Results have been mixed and no product is approved.
How it works
A cytokine domain is fused to an antibody against a tumour-associated antigen or stromal marker, delivering local immune activation after systemic dosing.
- Localises potent cytokines to tumour
- Combines with checkpoint blockade and chemotherapy
- Cytokines still leak systemically
- Complex manufacturing
- No approvals despite decades of work
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Immunocytokines" OR ABSTRACT:"Immunocytokines" OR TITLE:"antibody-cytokine fusions" OR ABSTRACT:"antibody-cytokine fusions") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Immunocytokines (antibody-cytokine fusions), not a curated reading list.
Similar pages
not linked directly; found by shared links- CompanyPhilogen S.p.A.
- IdeaLet adolescents from age 12 into adult trials when the cancer biology is the same
- TreatmentT3011
- TreatmentTasonermin
- InstitutionChris O'Brien Lifehouse
- TermWide local excision
- IdeaGrow immune command posts inside tumours
- CompanyImmatics