A team of researchers from the Rice Biotech Launch Pad at Rice University has developed a groundbreaking implantable device that could transform treatment for some of the most challenging cancers. The "cytokine factory" implant has demonstrated promising results against metastatic melanoma, pancreatic, and colorectal tumors in preclinical studies.
The research, published in The Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, details how this innovative approach harnesses the power of interleukin-12 (IL-12) to activate the body's immune system against cancer cells while minimizing toxicity.
How the Cytokine Factory Works
The implantable device contains cells engineered to locally release IL-12 near the tumor microenvironment. This localized delivery system successfully induces the recruitment of specialized immune cells called precursor exhausted T cells (Tpex cells), which then develop into a robust, diverse population of tumor-targeting T cells.
"We designed the IL-12 cytokine factory to enhance immunotherapy approaches while minimizing toxicity, a critical need in the treatment of particularly aggressive cancers," explained Omid Veiseh, professor of bioengineering, faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad and senior corresponding author of the publication.
What distinguishes this approach from other cytokine therapies is its durability and breadth of immune response. According to Veiseh, "IL-12 is particularly impactful compared to other cytokines, as our research demonstrates that other cytokines primarily recruit homogeneous T cell populations and show reduced efficacy over time, while IL-12 generates a more robust antitumor response by recruiting a more durable, broader repertoire of tumor-targeting T cells."
Impressive Preclinical Results
The study revealed that when combined with checkpoint inhibitors, the IL-12 cytokine factories successfully eliminated both local and distant tumors in preclinical models of metastatic melanoma, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. This suggests the treatment could potentially address not only primary tumors but also metastatic disease.
Importantly, the technology demonstrated a favorable safety profile in both mouse and non-human primate models, addressing a critical concern in cytokine therapy development.
Nathan Reticker-Flynn, assistant professor of otolaryngology at Stanford University and study collaborator, highlighted the significance of these findings: "Harnessing the cellular immune system to target solid tumors is a common but often fraught approach to fighting cancer as the associated challenge of efficacious treatment without toxicity remains elusive. Our study demonstrates not only the efficacy of this technology in preclinical models but also its safety profile, which is a critical aspect as we move toward clinical trials."
Path to Clinical Development
The published research will serve as the foundation for an investigational new drug application (IND) with the U.S. FDA, expected in early 2026. RBL LLC, the venture creation studio behind the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, plans to launch a new biotech company focused on commercializing this IL-12 cytokine factory technology.
The development of this technology has received significant support from multiple organizations, including ARPA-H, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas, the National Institutes of Health, and Avenge Bio.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Cancer Treatment
The cytokine factory approach addresses several critical challenges in current cancer treatment paradigms. Solid tumors, particularly pancreatic cancer, remain among the most difficult cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates often below 10%. Traditional immunotherapies have shown limited efficacy against these cancer types, creating a significant unmet medical need.
By enabling localized delivery of IL-12, the technology aims to overcome the toxicity issues that have historically limited systemic cytokine therapies while maximizing anti-tumor immune responses. This localized approach could potentially expand the range of patients who can benefit from immunotherapy.
The technology's ability to recruit a diverse population of T cells may also help address the challenge of tumor heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms that often limit the long-term efficacy of current immunotherapies.
As this technology advances toward clinical trials, it represents a promising new approach in the ongoing effort to develop more effective treatments for patients with advanced and metastatic cancers that have traditionally been difficult to treat with existing therapies.
