Compositions and methods of using antagonists of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) to prevent cancer progression and metastasis.

TSLP, an inflammatory cytokine that is often associated with the induction of allergic responses in the lungs, is also expressed in cancers regulating metastasis. The cancer-promoting activity of TSLP primarily requires signaling through a receptor on CD4+ T-cells, promoting immune responses and production of immunosuppressive factors such as IL-10 and IL-13. Expression of TSLP may be a useful prognostic marker and inhibitors of TSLP could have therapeutic potential. Inactivation of TSLP expression or its receptor signaling was able to effectively diminish cancer progression and metastasis in knock-out mice.

• Treatment to control cancer invasion and spreading while avoiding immune suppression
• Means to augment anti-tumor immune responses
• Development of prognostic markers for disease outcome in cancer patients

• Inactivation of TSLP in knock-out mice was sufficient to diminish both cancer progression and metastasis
• Does not suppress immune system

• Early-stage
• In vivo data available (animal)

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2. De Monte L, et al. [PMID 21339327]
3. Pedroza-Gonzalez A, et al. [PMID 21339324]