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.
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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.
