A recent study conducted by researchers at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine has unveiled a promising avenue for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by targeting an allergy pathway.
In the preliminary stages of human research, scientists found that combining immunotherapy with dupilumab, an antibody blocking the Interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor commonly used for allergies and asthma, enhanced patients’ immune systems. Notably, one in six patients experienced a significant reduction in tumor size.
While checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has transformed NSCLC treatment, the response rate is limited, prompting researchers to explore alternative approaches. Senior study author Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, emphasized the quest to identify immune programs through cutting-edge technology that can augment the tumor immune response to checkpoint blockade.
The study, part of the TARGET program at Mount Sinai, utilized single-cell technology to analyze immune cells infiltrating lung cancers. Surprisingly, these cells exhibited characteristics akin to a ‘type 2’ immune response associated with allergic conditions like eczema and asthma.
Nelson LaMarche, PhD, the first study author, stated, “These results led us to explore whether we could repurpose a medication typically used for allergic conditions to ‘rescue’ or enhance the tumor response to checkpoint blockade.”
Thomas Marron, MD, PhD, co-senior author, added, “Strikingly, we found that IL-4 blockade enhanced lung cancer response to checkpoint blockade in mice and in six lung cancer patients with treatment-resistant disease.” Notably, one patient witnessed a remarkable reduction in cancer after just three doses of the allergy medication, maintaining control over 17 months later.
While these initial findings are promising, the researchers stress the necessity for larger clinical trials to validate the efficacy of dupilumab in treating NSCLC. Ongoing trials have expanded to include a broader group of lung cancer patients, aiming to identify biomarkers predicting the effectiveness of dupilumab treatment.
Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, CEO and Director of Scientific Affairs at the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), expressed support for the Mount Sinai team’s visionary work. She highlighted the institute’s commitment to funding comprehensive research, from lab discovery to clinical implementation, and eagerly anticipated the positive impact of this breakthrough on transforming lives.
The Mount Sinai researchers remain dedicated to advancing their findings and hope to contribute to the ongoing progress in cancer treatment. The study represents a significant step forward in exploring innovative strategies to enhance checkpoint blockade responses against lung cancer.
