Anastasia Varanko, MS, PhD
A Regulatory T-cell Targeted Protein Nanocarrier for Cancer Immunotherapy
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has shown promise, but its success is limited by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly the presence of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which dampen anti-tumor immune responses. This project aims to develop a targeted drug delivery platform to selectively activate the STING pathway within Tregs, reprogramming them to enhance anti-tumor immunity. We will engineer a bispecific nanobody-drug conjugate that delivers a STING agonist specifically to Tregs in tumors, improving pharmacokinetics and minimizing off-target effects. This novel approach could shift the TME toward an anti-tumor state by converting Tregs into pro-inflammatory, effector-like cells, boosting cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and tumor rejection. Our work will establish a new paradigm for targeted immunotherapy and advance drug delivery technologies to immune cell subsets, offering potential synergy with existing cancer therapies like immune checkpoint blockade.
The PhRMA Foundation Fellowship supports my pursuit of innovative, cell-specific drug delivery platforms to reshape cancer immunotherapy and connects me to a community dedicated to translating bold science into meaningful advances for patients.
