Brenus Pharma, a French biotechnology company developing next-generation immunotherapies, and InSphero, a Swiss leader in 3D cell-based assay technologies, have successfully developed advanced 3D tumor spheroids that closely mimic human colorectal cancer conditions. The companies presented promising data at the European Association for Cancer Research 2025 annual congress, confirming the effectiveness of these models for potency testing of STC-1010, Brenus' lead immunotherapy candidate for colorectal cancer.
Revolutionary 3D Tumor Model Development
The collaboration, funded through the EUROSTARS program and co-financed by Bpifrance and Innosuisse, has resulted in the creation of ready-to-use vitrified 3D colorectal cancer spheroids. These tumor spheroids were developed using colorectal tumor cell lines co-cultured with colorectal fibroblasts, creating a more realistic representation of the tumor microenvironment.
The vitrification method represents a significant technological advancement, preserving tumor morphology, stromal integrity, and viability after thawing of fresh tumor spheroid samples. This approach enables a more accurate evaluation of STC-1010's therapeutic potential under conditions that closely mimic real in vivo tumor environments.
Promising Therapeutic Results
Previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of STC-1010 through comprehensive testing in these advanced models. The research showed that STC-1010 antigens were efficiently taken up and presented by monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mMo-DCs), leading to the activation of CD8+ T cells.
These activated T cells demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity, inducing apoptosis in both 2D and 3D colorectal cancer models. Additionally, the treatment triggered the release of crucial anti-tumor cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and Granzyme B, confirming the translational relevance of the 3D models and supporting STC-1010's therapeutic potential in targeting colorectal cancer.
Industry Impact and Future Implications
"This collaboration with InSphero has enabled us to assess the highly representative and scalable 3D model into our SGC platform. It's a major step forward in our ability to assess potency and accelerate the development of STC-1010 and future candidates," stated Benoit Pinteur, Chief Scientific Officer of Brenus Pharma.
Jan Lichtenberg, CEO of InSphero, emphasized the broader implications of this work: "We are proud to support Brenus with our cryopreserved 3D tumor models. This work illustrates how advanced in vitro systems can bring immunotherapies closer to clinical reality."
Technological Platform Integration
The successful integration of InSphero's 3D tumor models into Brenus Pharma's proprietary "off-the-shelf" Stimulated-tumor-Ghost-Cells (SGC) platform represents a significant advancement in immunotherapy development. The SGC platform is designed to mimic patients' tumor cells and make them visible to the immune system, enabling the body to anticipate, target, and destroy cancer cells as they appear.
This collaboration, initiated in 2022 under the EUROSTARS program, demonstrates the value of international R&D partnerships in advancing oncology innovation. The development of scalable, cryopreserved 3D tumor models provides a more predictive and clinically relevant platform for evaluating immunotherapy candidates, potentially accelerating the translation of promising treatments from laboratory to clinic.
