ACADEMIA

UAlberta partnership delivers better treatment for cancer patients

Written by: Tyler O'Neal, Staff Editor
Category: ACADEMIA
CAPTION Immune checkpoints induce their action through a complex network of protein-protein interactions. For example, the PD-1 pathway starts with a specific binding between the PD-1 receptor and either of its ligands (PD-L1 or PD-L2). It is only one way of binding between these proteins that can activate the pathway. The receptor has to bind to its ligand in a precise location on the surface of the proteins and in a particular conformation. Barakat's lab developed a computational model to understand how these proteins interact in human. These sophisticated algorithms combined with the computational power of the IBM Blue Gene/Q supercomputer allowed them to explore all possible conformations of the PD-1 and its ligands. The best conformation is shown in yellow in both figures and correlates very well with the available experimental data. These models are currently being used to rationally design small molecule inhibitor for the PD-1 pathway. Dr. Barakat thinks that this model is just a baby step toward a full picture of the whole pathway and other immune checkpoints proteins. CREDIT Dr. Barakat's lab

Small but mighty molecules: Transforming the fight against cancer

A multimillion dollar research partnership announced today at the University of Alberta is giving a "dream team" of researchers the opportunity to potentially transform cancer treatment and better patient outcomes.

The interdisciplinary team, led by Khaled Barakat, research assistant professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, includes world-renowned leaders in oncology, virology, immunology, chemistry, dentistry and pharmaceutical sciences, and intends to use small molecules aimed at specific targeted binding sites to jumpstart the body's T cells to fight off cancer. 

These small molecules are being developed and tested through supercomputer modeling, which allows the team to "simulate the T cell surface proteins and understand how they interact in humans." 

"Our team is developing small molecules to replace the antibodies. These small molecules will be designed specifically and rationally to target specific binding sites on T cells and reactivate them and allow them to see and clear tumours," says Barakat. "These small molecules will have a shorter stay in the blood, allowing the immune system to not be over activated while reducing side effects. In addition, the small molecules will be cheaper to make, reducing costs for patients and health-care systems."

The use of these small molecules is not specific to any type of cancer. "The concept has been proven by antibodies in many cancer types including advanced melanoma, one of the hardest cancers to treat. Think of our small molecules as a 'magic drug' that simply can be used against many types of cancer," says Barakat.

Barakat and his team's research would not be possible without the investment partnership of the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute.

The Alberta Cancer Foundation is investing $2.4 million dollars in this research program. "Our partnership with the University of Alberta and Li Ka Shing Institute will allow researchers to look at novel ways of treating cancer, where they target the immune system rather than the tumour itself," says Myka Osinchuk, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. "Immunotherapy has been described as a breakthrough for this disease so we are pleased to make this investment on behalf of our donors and are excited about its potential on Albertans facing cancer."

Based on this partnership, the Li Ka Shing Institute of Applied Virology is also contributing $3 million dollars to further this research. "The Immune Checkpoint program was initiated within the University of Alberta's Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute (LKSAVI ) in 2014 with Dr. Khaled Barakat as the principal investigator," says Michael Houghton, professor and director of LKSAVI. "Dr. Lorne Tyrrell and myself are very pleased that the Alberta Cancer Foundation has also seen the great potential of this program and has decided to become a co-investor with the LKSAVI to deliver these much needed medicines to the many cancer and chronic viral illness sufferers in Alberta, Canada and globally."

The team plans to have a "lead structure", an almost-ready drug that only needs small tweaking and optimization, in place by the end of the second year of the project. At that point, they will be seeking a pharmaceutical partner to develop this lead structure into a drug for human trials by 2020.