In this article, scientists explain that they have
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Our management needs to address the slowness of our CRC clinical and get our data submitted! Time is not our friend!
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09...091002.htm
CCR5 antagonists inhibit the recruitment and immunosuppressive functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), making them a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Research has shown that blocking the CCR5-chemokine axis can reduce the accumulation and activity of MDSCs in tumors, thereby enhancing anti-cancer immune responses. The role of the CCR5 axis in MDSC activity Recruitment and trafficking: The C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is expressed on MDSCs. Its ligands, such as CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5, are produced by tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. This interaction is a key driver for mobilizing and recruiting MDSCs from the bone marrow and blood into tumor sites.Enhanced immunosuppression: Studies in melanoma and other cancers have shown that CCR5+ MDSCs are more immunosuppressive than their CCR5- counterparts. In melanoma, CCR5+ MDSCs produce higher levels of arginase-1, which suppresses T-cell function. Inflammatory factors, particularly IL-6, can upregulate CCR5 expression on MDSCs and increase their immunosuppressive capacity via the STAT3 pathway.Correlation with tumor progression: The accumulation of CCR5+ MDSCs in tumors and peripheral blood has been linked to increased tumor progression in both mouse models and human patients. How CCR5 antagonists affect MDSCs Blocking the CCR5-ligand interaction disrupts the MDSC-mediated immune suppression at multiple stages. Reduced migration: By antagonizing CCR5, these drugs directly inhibit the migration and accumulation of MDSCs at the tumor site, which is a key step for creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment.Impaired function: CCR5 antagonists can diminish the immunosuppressive potential of MDSCs. For example, blocking CCR5 signaling can reduce the expression of immunosuppressive factors like TGF-\(\beta \) and IL-10 by MDSCs.Synergistic anti-tumor effects: When combined with other therapies, CCR5 antagonists can significantly enhance the anti-cancer immune response.Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Combining the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc with a PD-1 inhibitor (pembrolizumab) has shown promise in clinical trials for metastatic colorectal cancer.Inhibiting compensatory pathways: Single-agent inhibitors targeting MDSC recruitment pathways, such as CCR2, can be ineffective due to compensatory mechanisms. Combining CCR5 inhibitors with other agents, like CXCR2 inhibitors, may be a more successful strategy. CCR5 antagonists in clinical research Several CCR5 inhibitors originally developed for HIV treatment are being repurposed for oncology. Maraviroc: An oral small-molecule inhibitor, maraviroc has been tested in clinical trials for colorectal cancer with liver metastases, where it was shown to have beneficial effects.Leronlimab: A monoclonal antibody against CCR5, leronlimab has been used in HIV patients and is being investigated for oncology applications.Other agents: Other CCR5-targeting agents, such as the fusion protein mCCR5-Ig and the natural product anibamine, have shown promise in preclinical studies. Overall, targeting the CCR5 axis is a viable strategy to disrupt MDSC function, reduce tumor immunosuppression, and improve the efficacy of other immunotherapies.
In a potential cancer immunotherapy strategy, suppressing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) with an Interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist would indirectly inhibit the activity of the immune checkpoint receptor LILRB4 (leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 4). High levels of IL-6 promote MDSC activity, and the LILRB4 receptor on these cells drives their immunosuppressive function. By blocking the IL-6 pathway, the expansion and function of MDSCs are curtailed, thereby reducing the overall immunosuppressive effects they exert, including those mediated by LILRB4.

