Targeted tumor immunotherapy

Immunotherapy Although immunotherapy has transformed the cancer therapeutics landscape, a number of problems remain to be solved, from improving efficacy to limiting side effects. Wang et al. engineered nanoparticles that could be activated specifically in tumors. They conjugated antibodies against programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) with matrix metalloproteinase protein 2 (MMP-2)–sensitive nanoparticles carrying a photosensitizer. MMP-2 is highly expressed in tumors, and delivery of the nanoparticle to tumors elicited release of the antibody from the nanoparticle. When used in conjunction with localized near-infrared radiation that activated the photosensitizer to produce reactive oxygen species, the nanoparticles outperformed systemic anti-PDL1 in limiting growth and metastasis of murine tumors. Sci. Immunol. 4 , eaau6584 (2019).