We aim to understand the role and biology of tumor associated macrophages (TAM) in solid tumors and develop tools to modulate them for therapeutic purposes. We developed a family of peptides to target tumor associated macrophages (TAM) in various solid tumors in mice: breast cancer, glioblastoma, melanoma, gastric cancer.

 

These peptides, which target the macrophage marker CD206 (mannose receptor) have been used to guide therapeutic cargo to tumors, such as nanoparticles or polymer-drug conjugates. Importantly, these macrophages targeting peptides do not accumulate in the liver.

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More recently, we developed the macrophage targeting peptide called MACTIDE, with high resistance to proteolysis which can target TAM when administered orally. Using MACTIDE, we developed a peptide-drug conjugate to rewire TAM towards an immunostimulatory phenotype. This peptide-drug conjugate, called MACTIDE-V, showed potent anti-metastatic activity in two mouse models of metastatic breast cancer. Current efforts are placed in identifying synergies between MACTIDE-V and other clinical-stage TAM reprogramming agents, to treat metastatic breast cancer and glioblastoma.