Teniposide: Leukemia Drug Shows Promise in Immunotherapy & STING Activation

Researchers have discovered that Teniposide, a medication used to treat childhood leukemia, may have a new application in immunotherapy. The finding centers on the drug’s ability to activate a key protein involved in the body’s immune response.

A New Role for an Existing Drug

The discovery, detailed in the scientific journal Frontiers in Immunology, involves the work of a team led by Adrián Velázquez Campoy, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology and the scientific head of the LACRIMA laboratory at the Institute of Biocomputation and Systems Physics Complex (BIFI) of the University of Zaragoza.

How Teniposide Works

According to Velázquez, the anti-tumor drug, when combined with the protein known as STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes), functions as an “alarm system” within cells. This activation triggers the production of Interferon, a molecule that defends against both infections, and tumors.

Did You Know? The research involved a virtual screening of thousands of already-approved chemical compounds.

The research demonstrates that Teniposide activates STING without requiring the involvement of another protein, cGAS. Laboratory tests, conducted on both human and mouse cells, confirmed the connection between Teniposide and STING.

Collaboration and Future Possibilities

The study was coordinated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Universidad CEU San Pablo by Estanislao Nistal, from the Virology and Innate Immunity (VII) group, and Claire Coderch, from the Drug Design and Synthesis (PROLIGAR) group. Collaboration also came from Rubén Martínez Buey, director of the Research Group Metabolic Engineering at the Department of Microbiology and Genetics of the University of Salamanca, and the group of Adolfo García-Sastre from the Department of Microbiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Expert Insight: The potential for repurposing existing drugs like Teniposide offers a faster pathway to new therapies compared to developing entirely new pharmaceuticals, potentially accelerating progress in immunotherapy.

Researchers believe this discovery could lead to the clinical reuse of Teniposide and provide a foundation for designing new drugs that activate STING in a controlled manner, potentially leading to safer and more effective therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Teniposide currently used for?

Teniposide, derived from Podofilotoxin, is currently used to combat childhood leukemia.

What is the STING protein?

STING, or Stimulator of Interferon Genes, is a protein key to the body’s immune response. It acts as an “alarm system” in cells, activating Interferon.

Where was this research published?

The findings were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Immunology.

Could this research ultimately lead to new treatment options for a wider range of diseases beyond childhood leukemia?