New nanoparticles stimulate the immune system to attack ovarian tumors
T argeted particles carrying the cytokine IL-12 can jump-start T cells, allowing them to clear tumors while avoiding side effects. Originally published by Anne Trafton | MIT News , on October 31, 2025 M IT chemical engineers have designed nanoparticles that can deliver an immune-stimulating molecule called IL-12 to ovarian cancer cells . IL-12 then recruits T cells to attack the tumors. Credit: Courtesy of the researchers; background image National Cancer Institute Cancer immunotherapy , which uses drugs that stimulate the body’s immune cells to attack tumors , is a promising approach to treating many types of cancer. However, it doesn’t work well for some tumors , including ovarian cance r. To elicit a better response, MIT researchers have designed new nanoparticles that can deliver an immune-stimulating molecule called IL-12 directly to ovarian tumors . When given along with immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors , IL-12 helps the immune syste...