Convergence of Targeted and Immune Therapies for the Treatment of Oncogene-Driven Cancers

In this issue, Hattori and colleagues capitalized on targeted small-molecule covalent inhibitors of one KRAS mutant with a G12C substitution and of other oncoproteins to create drug-peptide conjugates that serve as cancer neoantigens that prompt an immune response to oncogene-mutant cancer cells. This immunotherapy strategy can serve as an effective approach to overcome the treatment-induced resistance that limits the effectiveness of essentially all small molecule-based targeted anticancer drugs.

Automated summary

Hattori and colleagues developed drug-peptide conjugates using targeted small-molecule covalent inhibitors to generate cancer neoantigens, inducing an immune response against oncogene-mutant cancer cells. This immunotherapy strategy shows potential in overcoming treatment-induced resistance commonly observed in small molecule-based targeted anticancer drugs.