Kayla Goliwas, PhD

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer continues to be a major clinical challenge. A new combination of therapies targeting infiltrating immune suppressive cells, which promote tumor progression, may increase the body’s anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, this treatment strategy is of great interest. This study aims to evaluate the potential to combine current clinically utilized immune directed therapy with inhibition of one pathway involved in the accumulation of immune suppressive cells within the tumor, interleukin-6 signaling, to increase therapeutic effect.

Update:
While immunotherapy has changed the treatment landscape of non-small cell lung cancer, many patients become resistant or do not respond to currently utilized immune directed therapies. We are combining clinically utilized immune checkpoint therapy, a type of immunotherapy that helps the body's own immune system recognize cancer cells, with an interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antibody to increase effectiveness of anti-tumor immune cells within lung tumors. Using tissue samples from patient tumors, we are evaluating response to combination therapy when compared to immune checkpoint therapy alone. This year, we will finish this process and determine the effectiveness of this combination.

Final Project Update:
Treating lung cancer remains a significant challenge. New strategies that use the patient’s immune system to shrink tumors and improve responses to existing therapies are being explored. Combining treatments that target immune-suppressive cells, which help tumors grow, may enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer. 

The signaling protein interleukin-6 (IL6) plays a key role in cancer by recruiting immune-suppressive cells that can hinder effective immune therapies. This project looks at combining current immune therapies with an IL6 signaling inhibitor to reduce these suppressive cells in tumors and boost treatment effects. 

Many studies have used flat, two-dimensional cell cultures, which don’t accurately reflect the complex, three-dimensional environment of tumors in the body. To better mimic human lung cancer, we created tumor models using actual lung tissue from patients. These models preserve the natural architecture of the tumor, including various cell types and structural proteins. 

Our findings show that this combination therapy reduces immune-suppressive cell recruitment and increases tumor cell death. This approach deserves further investigation.