Novel nanovaccines to stimulate anti-cancer immunity (CanNanoVac)

In this project we will liposomes that are decorated with nanobodies that bind to antigen presenting cells. Our aim is to test the capacity of these liposomes to stimulate immune responses and function as cancer vaccines. For this we have set up a collaboration with QvQ that is specialized in the isolation of nanobodies and with Liposoma that are experts in the production of liposomes. 

These novel liposomal cancer vaccines could be used together with existing immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors to as therapeutic vaccines to treat (late stage) cancer types. Alternatively, cancer vaccines could be utilized as adjuvant therapy for more early stage cancer to prevent recurrence of the cancer. Since in the Netherlands 1 in 2 people will get cancer and 7% of total healthcare costs in 2019 in the Netherlands is spent on cancer costs, which adds up to EUR 6.5 billion, any improvement of cancer therapy will be beneficial. 

We have produced antigen containing liposomes decorated with nanobodies specific for two different receptors present on human antigen presenting cells. These liposomes showed specific and enhanced uptake by antigen presenting cells and stimulated strong immune responses in vivo and vitro. Further research will be necessary to test these vaccines in tumor studies and to compare these to existing vaccines. 

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