Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dana-Farber-Cancer Institute Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

The Broad Institute, Inc.

Nathan D Mathewson

Kai W Wucherpfennig

Aviv Regev

Karl Dane Wittrup

Itay Tirosh

Mario Suva

Byong Ha Kang

Provided are methods and compositions for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof. One of the top gene products in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is KLRB1 (also known as CD161), a C-type lectin protein that binds to CLEC2D. Binding of CLEC2D to the KLRB1 receptor inhibits the cytotoxic function of NK cells as well as cytokine secretion. KLRB1 is only expressed by small subpopulations of human blood T cells, and consequently little is known about the function of this receptor in T cells. However, preliminary data demonstrate that KLRB1 expression is induced in T cells within the GBM microenvironment. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided comprising administering an agent capable of blocking the interaction of KLRB1 with its ligand. The agent may comprise an antibody or fragment thereof, which may bind KLRB1 or CLEC2D.

Methods and compositions for treating cancer by targeting the CLEC2D-KLRB1 pathway

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, compounds (e.g., antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof) that bind to an epitope of CD161 an inhibit the interaction between CD161 and CLEC2D, and the use of the compounds in methods for treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of, cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies that bind human CD161

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Nathan D Mathewson