JHU083 and Macrophage Immune Cells Reprogramming in Prostate and Bladder Cancer Therapy

A recent study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery has shown promising results in treating prostate and bladder cancers. The research, published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research, focused on reprogramming immune cells, particularly macrophages, to promote antitumor activity.

The research team found that immune-suppressing macrophages rely on the amino acid glutamine. By blocking the access of these cells to glutamine, the team was able to shift the balance toward immune-stimulating macrophages, effectively shrinking tumors. A drug called JHU083, developed by the study's co-authors, has shown success in blocking glutamine use in prostate and bladder tumors in mice, triggering tumor cell death and reprogramming macrophages into immune-boosting cells.

Dr. Jelani Zarif, the senior author of the study, is optimistic about the potential of JHU083 as a promising anti-cancer therapy for tumors with immune-suppressing macrophages. He plans to launch a clinical trial of JHU083 in patients with treatment-resistant prostate or bladder cancer to evaluate its effectiveness in shrinking tumors and preventing metastasis.

The researchers also aim to explore the combination of JHU083 with other treatments to enhance its effectiveness against tumors. This innovative approach could revolutionize the treatment of prostate and bladder cancers, offering new hope to patients with challenging forms of the disease.