Italian researchers advance oncology immunotherapy and metastasis research

Italian research institutions are advancing precision oncology through new collaborative agreements and molecular discoveries. Ca' Foscari University of Venice and the Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV) are forming an alliance to develop innovative immunotherapies. This partnership focuses on biomolecular engineering, specifically the development of macrocyclic peptides for theranostics, antibody-drug conjugates with cytotoxic action, and T-cell based therapies.

Separately, researchers at the University of d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara have identified the IL-27p28/IL-30 molecule as a key factor in tumor growth and metastasis. Studies indicate that IL-30 is highly concentrated in metastases and functions by deactivating T-lymphocytes and reprogramming the tumor microenvironment. Inhibiting this molecule could potentially enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments, such as nivolumab and relatlimab, in patients with metastatic melanoma.