Precision cancer treatment on a larger scale is moving closer after researchers have developed an AI platform that can tailor protein components and arm the patient's immune cells to fight cancer. The new method, published in the scientific journal Science, demonstrates for the first time, that it is possible to design proteins in the computer for redirecting immune cells to target cancer cells through pMHC molecules. This dramatically shortens the process of finding effective molecules for cancer treatment from years to a few weeks.

We are essentially creating a new set of eyes for the immune system. Current methods for individual cancer treatment are based on finding so-called T-cell receptors in the immune system of a patient or donor that can be used for treatment. This is a very time-consuming and challenging process. Our platform designs molecular keys to target cancer cells using the AI platform, and it does so at incredible speed, so that a new lead molecule can be ready within 4-6 weeks, says Associate Professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and last author of the study Timothy P. Jenkins.

The AI platform, developed by a team from DTU and the American Scripps Research Institute, aims to solve a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy by demonstrating how scientists can generate target treatments for tumor cells and avoid damaging healthy tissue. Normally, T cells naturally identify cancer cells by recognizing specific protein fragments, known as peptides, presented on the cell surface by molecules called pMHCs.It is a slow and challenging process to utilise this knowledge for therapy, often because the variation in the body's own T-cell receptors makes it challenging to create a personalised treatment.

Source: https://www.dtu.dk/english/news/university-affairs/ai-platform-designs-molecular-missiles-to-attack-cancer-cells?id=50582b3e-4a93-4b5e-925d-7379058ca146