Validation Of Novel Targets For Cancer Immunotherapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comprehensive Pre-Clinical Assessment Of Novel Targets For Cancer Immunotherapy
IRAS ID
357590
Contact name
Chris Wan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Xterna Ltd.
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study aims to investigate the pre-clinical potential of a set of new targets that are selectively present on cancer cells, for use in cancer immunotherapy.
Cancer immunotherapy has transformed the way certain cancers are treated by harnessing the body’s immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. However, its application is still limited—partly due to the lack of targets that are found only on cancer cells and not on healthy cells.
Xterna, a biotechnology company, has identified a new class of potential targets with this kind of selectivity. In parallel, Xterna has developed therapeutics which can bind to these new targets, and aims to show, in a pre-clinical setting, that these molecules can be used for safe and effective cancer immunotherapy.
The research will be carried out in a laboratory using anonymised human blood or tissue samples obtained from healthy donors or patients with diagnosed cancers. These samples will be sourced through academic collaborators, commercial suppliers, or NHS Blood and Transplant (NHS-BT). All samples will be pre-anonymised before being provided to the research team, and no donor identities will be known or used at any stage of the study.
Over the course of this five-year project, a series of in vitro (test tube) experiments will be conducted using human immune cells purified from donor samples, to test whether the newly identified targets and therapeutics can be used to activate the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Although this research does not involve direct participation from patients, the findings will play an important role in guiding the development of new cancer treatments. If successful, the results will support the creation of next-generation immunotherapies that could move forward into clinical trials and ultimately benefit patients.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0099
Date of REC Opinion
22 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion