A Clinical Trial Evaluating IL-22BP/LNP Compound in Refractory Malignant Solid Tumors for Safety, Tolerability and Activity

Cancer is a major cause of death among the global population and a significant obstacle to life extension. According to the statistics of the World Health Organization in 2019, it ranked as the first or second leading cause of death before the age of 70 in 112 countries, and in recent years, the burden of its incidence and mortality has increased rapidly. The treatment of advanced cancer consumes a large amount of resources, has poor efficacy, and is accompanied by numerous side effects. For example, the 5-year survival rate of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is only 40 - 50%, and radiotherapy may lead to osteonecrosis, while chemotherapy may cause hepatorenal toxicity and so on.

Against this background, researchers have been exploring better treatment options, and gene therapy has attracted much attention. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a crucial part of gene therapy, and immune gene therapy holds great potential. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) influences tumor development, and IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP) can block its activity and impede the proliferation of tumor cells.

Previously, there has been no research on mRNA vaccines targeting IL-22. Therefore, this project will provide a new treatment strategy for patients with advanced refractory malignant solid tumors.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female patients: aged ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 70 years old;
• Patients with histopathologically confirmed, refractory to second-line treatment, advanced recurrent/metastatic malignant solid tumors and without standard clinical treatment regimens (such as patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma, advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, etc.);
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score: 0 - 1;
• Expected survival time ≥ 3 months;
• More than 28 days since the last chemotherapy/radiotherapy/surgery;
• More than 6 weeks since the last use of nitrosoureas or mitomycin C;
• Main organ functions are in good condition;
• Sign a written informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Have participated in other drug clinical trials within 4 weeks;
• The tumor is located close to major blood vessels or the trachea;
• Patients with uncontrolled cardiac clinical symptoms or diseases, such as heart failure of NYHA class II or above, unstable angina pectoris, having had a myocardial infarction within 1 year, and having clinically significant supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias that require treatment or intervention.
• For female subjects: pregnant or lactating women.
• Patients have active tuberculosis, bacterial or fungal infections (≥ grade 2 of NCI-CTCAE 5.0); have active HIV infection, active HBV infection, or HCV infection.
• Those with a history of psychotropic drug abuse who are unable to quit or have mental disorders;
• Subjects have any active autoimmune diseases or a history of autoimmune diseases (such as, but not limited to: uveitis, enteritis, hypophysitis, nephritis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism; subjects with vitiligo or those whose asthma in childhood has been completely relieved and who do not require any intervention in adulthood can be included; subjects with asthma that requires bronchodilators for medical intervention cannot be included).
• Subjects are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment.
• Have a history of drug abuse or known medical, psychological, or social conditions, such as a history of alcoholism or drug use.
• Known to be allergic, hypersensitive, or intolerant to the studied IL-22BP/LNP (including any excipients). Have a severe allergy history to any drugs, foods, or vaccines in the past, such as anaphylactic shock, allergic laryngeal edema, allergic dyspnea, allergic purpura, thrombocytopenic purpura, local allergic necrotizing reaction (Arthus reaction), etc.
• From the screening period to 12 months after the completion of drug injection, female subjects have pregnancy plans or the partners of male subjects have pregnancy plans.
• According to the investigator's judgment, there are concomitant diseases that seriously endanger patient safety or affect the patient's completion of the study.