# Immunostimulatory Nanocarrier for Breast Cancer Immunochemotherapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $454,633

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Immunochemotherapy that combines a chemotherapeutic agent with an immune checkpoint blocker
represents one of the most promising strategies for the treatment of various types of cancers including breast
cancer. However, its success is limited by a number of issues including: a) the poor water solubility of the
drug(s); and b) the challenge in simultaneous delivery of the two therapeutics to the tumors. We have
developed a dual-functional, immunostimulatory nanomicellar carrier that was based on a prodrug conjugate of
PEG with NLG919, an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor currently used for reversing tumor immune
suppression. We showed that PEG-NLG alone was effective in enhancing T cell immune responses and
exhibited significant antitumor activity in vivo. More importantly, systemic delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) using the
PEG-NLG nanocarrier led to a significantly improved antitumor response in murine models of breast cancer.
This application is focused on further improving this delivery system to facilitate drug release at tumor site. The
potential of the improved nanocarrier in synergistic delivery of anticancer agents will then be investigated.
Three specific aims will be pursued in this proposal. Aim 1 will develop an improved PEG-NLG-based delivery
system with facilitated drug release following delivery to tumors. Aim 2 will examine the biodistribution and
pharmacokinetics of the improved delivery system in murine breast cancer models. We will first define the
stability of the improved delivery system in blood circulation. The efficiency of the system in delivery of PTX is
then examined. Aim 3 will define the in vivo therapeutic effect of PTX formulated in the improved delivery
system in murine models of breast cancer. The underlying mechanism for the synergistic antitumor activity will
also be studied. Successful completion of this study will lead to the development of a novel strategy for
improved breast cancer immunochemotherapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10144943
- **Project number:** 5R01CA219399-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Song Li
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $454,633
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-13 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10144943

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10144943, Immunostimulatory Nanocarrier for Breast Cancer Immunochemotherapy (5R01CA219399-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10144943. Licensed CC0.

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