MICROTUBULE-TARGETING DRUGS AS IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS AND METHODS OF SCREENING NOVEL IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CANCERS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

摘要

The invention is based on the discovery that mRNA encoding various checkpoint proteins such as PD-1 must interact with dynamic microtubules to allow surface expression of these proteins. Any inhibitor of this interaction is therefore a putative immune checkpoint inhibitor that could be suitable for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases. Accordingly, the present invention relates to using microtubule-targeting drugs as immune checkpoint inhibitor, and a method of screening an immune checkpoint inhibitor comprising a) determining the ability of a test compound to inhibit the interaction of an mRNA sequence encoding for an immune checkpoint protein to a polymerized-tubulin moiety and b) positively selecting the test compound that inhibits said binding.