A recent study from the University of California San Diego has demonstrated the effectiveness of an experimental treatment made from nanoparticles fashioned from the cowpea mosaic virus in protecting against a broad range of metastatic cancers in mice. The treatment showed remarkable success in improving survival rates and suppressing the growth of metastatic tumors across various cancer models, including colon, ovarian, melanoma, and breast cancer. Even when administered to mice whose tumors were surgically removed, similar positive outcomes were observed. This research builds upon previous work done by Nicole Steinmetz and her team, who have been using cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles to trigger the immune system to fight cancer and prevent its spread and recurrence.
The earlier studies involved injecting the plant virus nanoparticles directly into tumors to stimulate an immune response. Despite the virus being non-infectious in mammals, the immune cells recognized it as foreign, leading to a robust immune reaction against existing tumors and future tumors. In the current study, it was discovered that the nanoparticles do not need to be injected directly into tumors to be effective. Systemic administration of the nanoparticles led to improved survival rates and inhibited metastasis across various cancer types. The treatment aimed to prevent the formation of tumors and metastatic disease rather than treating established tumors or metastatic disease post formation.
The nanoparticles were created by growing black-eyed pea plants in the lab and infecting them with cowpea mosaic virus. The virus was then harvested in the form of ball-shaped nanoparticles, without any further modification. The researchers tested the treatment in mouse models of colon, ovarian, melanoma, and breast cancers and found that mice injected with cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles exhibited improved survival rates and reduced tumor growth when challenged with metastatic tumors. Even when challenged with new tumors a month later, the treated mice showed similar positive outcomes. The efficacy of the treatment post-surgery was also demonstrated, with improved survival rates and decreased tumor regrowth observed in mice.
The research team is enthusiastic about the potential of the treatment, particularly in the post-surgery setting. Administering the nanoparticles after surgical tumor removal resulted in improved survival rates and decreased tumor regrowth in mice. The goal is to move towards clinical trials, and safety studies will be conducted as the research progresses. The team also plans to explore the treatment’s effectiveness in pet animals with cancer and delve deeper into understanding the immune-boosting properties of cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Shaughnessy Family Fund for Nano-ImmunoEngineering at UC San Diego.
Overall, the study showcases the promising potential of the cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles in preventing and treating metastatic cancers in mice. The nanoparticles, derived from plants, offer a systemic treatment that boosts the immune system to eliminate the disease before metastases can form and settle. By focusing on preventing the formation of tumors and metastases, the treatment has shown significant success in improving survival rates, inhibiting metastasis, and reducing tumor regrowth, even post-surgery. The researchers are hopeful that further studies and eventual clinical trials will validate the efficacy and safety of this innovative treatment approach.