Immune oncology
Evaluation of immunotherapies using zebrafish embryos
Our unique ZTX®platform provides a powerful in-vivo model for evaluating immunotherapies, enabling real-time imaging and insights into tumor-immune interactions.
How it works
- A tumor xenograft is created from fluorescent-labeled human tumor cells in zebrafish larvae.
- The human immune system is reconstituted by intravenous (i.v.) injection of human immune cells from patients or healthy donors.
- Tumor-bearing zebrafish larvae are treated with the drug candidate, such as antibodies of ADCs, for three days. Treatments can be administered to the water or injected i.v.
- Output shows the efficacy of treatment-induced tumor regression and inhibition of metastasis invasion.
Example studies
Below are examples of how the ZTX®platform has been used for immune-oncology studies.
Evaluation of
Immune check point inhibitors
Tumor xenografts (blue fluorescence) were generated from an anti-PD1-sensitive melanoma cell line. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs, red fluorescence) directed to recognize the melanoma cells were administered i.v. in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody or isotype control antibody.
There was a significant tumor regression upon co-incubation with TILs and the infiltration of T-cells is increased in the presence of the anti-PD-1 antibody.
Target validation for
Multi-specific antibodies
How it works
- Xenografts generated from Target positive and Target negative cell line
- T cells isolated from healthy donors (injected i.v)
- Multi-specific antibody (co-injected with the immune cells)
Output
- Significant tumor regression with multi-specific antibody in primary tumor in target positive cells.
- No significant target engagement was associated with the multispecific antibody in the target negative cell line.
ZTX®platform as
Companion diagnostics for autologous T-cell treatment
How it works
- Xenografts generated from primary patient tumors (blue fluorescence).
- T cells from the patient (red) were isolated and subsequently trained to recognize the tumors.
- The autologous T cells were tested for their ability to kill the tumor cells by injecting them i.v. into zebrafish larvae bearing the patient´s xenograft.
Output
- ZTX®platform is used as a companion diagnostics during the clinical trial to select and exclude patients for treatment based on the results that determine responders and non-responders to the treatment.
- Increased use of the treatment due to the high likelihood that the patients will respond to the treatment.