Top-image-vaccine-adjunvant

Vaccine adjuvant

Vaccine adjuvant

Articles

Vaccine adjuvant

SBG, a powerful adjuvant

Cancer is a disease where immunotherapeutic regimes are recognised as promising tools in future treatment.  Soluble beta-glucan (SBG®) enhances the immune response to antigens improving humoral and cellular immunity towards vaccines. SBG®, being a PAMP, has the ability to potentiate effector mechanisms of white blood cells when recognising anti-body labelled cancer cells.

SBG as adjuvant in cancer vaccines

  • SBG potentiate effector mechanisms of white blood cells
  • Proof of concept demonstrated
  • Non-toxic
  • Can be delivered per orally or combined with vaccine

SBG combined with cancer vaccine

SBG® is currently used as adjuvant in immunotherapy of cancer to strengthen the efficacy of an anti-GD2 neuroblastoma vaccine (NCT00911560) ongoing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, NY, USA. The product has earlier been employed in clinical trials to potentiate cancer antibodies both in US and Norway (NCT00492167; NCT00533364; NCT00533728). SBG®, being a conserved pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP), has the ability to potentiate the effector mechanisms of white blood cells (e.g. macrophages and neutrophils) when recognising anti-body labelled cancer cells. The beta-glucan product would also enhance the immune response to antigens improving both the humoral and cellular immunity towards vaccines. A possible effect of beta-glucan on the tumor microenvironment (TME) has also been highlighted as a promising tool for improving immunetherapeutic strategies 1

SBG used in Cancer vaccine: Proof of Concept

A model study at MSKCC demonstrated SBG administered per orally would also enhance the immune responses towards sub cutaneous administered vaccine antigens 2. This observation combined with the knowledge that SBG could enhance the immune mechanisms eradicating tumor cells spurred the initiation of a clinical trial where SBG is combined with a bivalent vaccine against neuroblastoma (NCT00911560). The study is ongoing and aims to recruit a total of 185 patients by end of 2018. The first part of the study (phase I) has been published in Clinical Cancer Research concluding that the combination is safe, and could be used in outpatient clinic 3. Based on the encouraging initial results the study moved into phase II part, that by April 2018 had recruited almost 170 patients. The preliminary data for 84 patients from the study is presented at the 2018 Advances in Neuroblastoma Research (ANR) in San Francisco 4.

References
  1. Mirza, R., L.A. DiPietro, and T.J. Koh, Selective and Specific Macrophage Ablation Is Detrimental to Wound Healing in Mice. The American Journal of Pathology. 175(6): p. 2454-2462.
  2. Leibovich, S.J. and R. Ross, The role of the macrophage in wound repair. A study with hydrocortisone and antimacrophage serum. The American Journal of Pathology, 1975. 78(1): p. 71-100.
  3. Klinkert, K., et al., Selective M2 Macrophage Depletion Leads to Prolonged Inflammation in Surgical Wounds. European Surgical Research, 2017. 58(3-4): p. 109-120.
  4. Khanna, S., et al., Macrophage Dysfunction Impairs Resolution of Inflammation in the Wounds of Diabetic Mice. PLoS ONE, 2010. 5(3): p. e9539.
  5. Frykberg, R.G. and J. Banks, Challenges in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds. Advances in Wound Care, 2015. 4(9): p. 560-582.
  6. Snyder, R.J., et al., Macrophages: A review of their role in wound healing and their therapeutic use. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2016. 24(4): p. 613-629.
  7. Mirza, R.E., et al., Sustained Inflammasome Activity in Macrophages Impairs Wound Healing in Type 2 Diabetic Humans and Mice. Diabetes, 2014. 63(3): p. 1103-1114.
  8. Koh, T.J. and L.A. DiPietro, Inflammation and wound healing: The role of the macrophage. Expert reviews in molecular medicine, 2011. 13: p. e23-e23.
  9. Leibovich, S.J. and D. Danon, Promotion of wound repair in mice by application of glucan. J Reticuloendothel Soc, 1980. 27(1): p. 1-11.
  10. Skjæveland, I. and R. Engstad, Can the activation of the body’s own key cells in wound healing, WOUND MACROPHAGES, make a positive contribution in the treatment of chronic wounds? Sår, 2013. 21(4): p. 5-6.