Project #3

MINT: A TARGETED APPROACH ENABLING IMMUNOLOGIC ERADICATION OF ADVANCED CANCER

Prof. C. Shad Thaxton

Cancer cell growth and immune system function are intimately linked with cholesterol metabolism. Currently, there are no targeted therapies that potently and simultaneously modulate cellular cholesterol in cancer and immune cells. Our lab has developed myeloid inactivating nanoparticle therapy (MINT) that exquisitely targets and reduces cellular cholesterol as a new treatment for cancer that simultaneously activates a robust anti-tumor adaptive immune response.

The objective of this research project is to develop a treatment regimen of MINT and traditional immunotherapies for cancers that do not respond to either therapy alone. We believe that by rational tuning of the cholesterol-mediated pathway connecting cancer and immune cells, we will reveal potent new cancer therapies with reduced side effects.