Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Multi-Antigenic Vaccine Delivery (INVITED SPEAKER)

The recent success of immunotherapies has highlighted the power of leveraging the immune system in the fight against cancer. In order for most immune-based therapies to succeed, T cell subsets with the correct tumor-targeting specificities must be mobilized. When such specificities are lacking, providing the immune system with tumor antigen material for processing and presentation is a common strategy for stimulating antigen-specific T cell populations. While straightforward in principle, experience has shown that manipulation of the antigen presentation process can be incredibly complex. Herein, I report on a biomimetic nanoparticulate anticancer vaccine formulation capable of activating multi-antigenic immunity. The design leverages the unique advantages of recent nanoparticle technology, delivering both syngeneic cancer material along with a potent immunological adjuvant in a format that promotes effective antigen presentation. The final formulation is capable of generating strong antitumor responses in vivo and can work together with other immunotherapies such as checkpoint blockades to help control tumor growth.