Xenetic Biosciences Reports Positive Preclinical Results for DNase I and Anti-CTLA-4 Therapy in Colorectal Cancer

Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. has presented promising preclinical data at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2024. The study indicates that systemic DNase I, combined with an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, significantly boosts antitumor immunity in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) models. The therapy aims at addressing microsatellite stable, mismatch repair proficient (MSS/MMRp) CRC tumors, which typically show little response to existing immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The research highlights DNase I's role in reducing neutrophil infiltration and enhancing T cell activation, leading to complete tumor responses in mouse models. The combination therapy also appears to foster immunological memory, as rechallenged mice showed no tumor growth. These developments support the potential of Xenetic's DNase platform in treating hard-to-treat cancers.