# Targeting Liver and Bile Duct Cancers with Specific Immune Cells > This patent describes a method to treat liver and bile duct cancers by using specially activated immune cells that recognize a unique protein fragment found on these cancer cells. - **Patent:** US 11560405 - **Original title:** Peptides and combination thereof for use in the immunotherapy against cancers - **Owner:** Immatics Biotechnologies - **Granted:** 2023 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, immunotherapy, oncology ## What it does This patent claims a method for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer) or bile duct cancer. The treatment involves giving the patient a composition containing activated CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. These T cells are specifically trained to recognize and bind to a particular peptide, LTDSFPLKV (SEQ ID NO: 37), when it's presented on the surface of cancer cells by an MHC class I molecule, as stated in claim 1. The patent also covers methods where the composition includes an adjuvant, such as IL-2 or IL-7, to boost the immune response (claim 2). For example, a patient with bile duct cancer could receive an infusion of these specially prepared T cells, potentially alongside an immune-boosting substance, to help their body fight the cancer. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover treating cancers other than hepatocellular carcinoma or bile duct cancer. - Does not cover targeting peptide sequences different from LTDSFPLKV (SEQ ID NO: 37). - Does not cover therapies that use immune cells other than activated CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. - Does not cover methods where the target peptide is not presented in a complex with an MHC class I molecule on the cancer cell surface. ## The clever bit The core innovation lies in identifying the specific peptide sequence, LTDSFPLKV (SEQ ID NO: 37), as a unique marker on hepatocellular carcinoma and bile duct cancer cells that can be targeted by the immune system's CD8+ T cells. ## Real-world examples 1. Adoptive T-cell therapy for solid tumors 2. Personalized cancer immunotherapies 3. T-cell receptor (TCR) based therapies 4. Cancer vaccines using specific tumor antigens ## Why it matters Hepatocellular carcinoma and bile duct cancer are often aggressive and difficult to treat with traditional therapies. This patent offers a targeted immunotherapy approach, aiming to specifically direct the body's immune system to destroy these particular cancer cells. By identifying a unique cancer-specific peptide, it provides a potential pathway for more precise and effective treatments for these challenging diseases. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Targeting Liver and Bile Duct Cancers with Specific Immune Cells cover? This patent describes a method to treat liver and bile duct cancers by using specially activated immune cells that recognize a unique protein fragment found on these cancer cells. ### Who owns patent US 11560405? Immatics Biotechnologies owns this patent, granted in 2023. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on July 8, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Hepatocellular carcinoma and bile duct cancer are often aggressive and difficult to treat with traditional therapies. This patent offers a targeted immunotherapy approach, aiming to specifically direct the body's immune system to destroy these particular cancer cells. By identifying a unique cancer-specific peptide, it provides a potential pathway for more precise and effective treatments for these challenging diseases. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover treating cancers other than hepatocellular carcinoma or bile duct cancer. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11560405/peptides-and-combination-thereof-for-use-in-the-immunotherapy-against-cancers-11560405 **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11560405 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Treating Liver Cancer with Specially Trained Immune Cells](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12168044/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-non-small-) — This patent describes a method for treating hepatocellular cancer by giving patients specially activated immune cells that are trained to recognize and kill cancer cells displaying a specific protein fragment. - [Using Specific Immune Cells to Fight Cancers Like Lung and Breast Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11407807/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-tu) — This patent describes a method to treat specific cancers, including lung, breast, and ovarian cancer, by giving patients their own immune cells (T cells) that have been trained to recognize and destroy cancer cells presenting a unique protein fragment. - [How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10314897/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-ca) — This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells. - [Training Immune Cells to Fight Specific Cancers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10364282/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-esophageal) — This patent describes a method to treat specific cancers like esophageal or lung cancer by creating specialized immune cells in the lab and giving them to patients to kill cancer cells that display a particular protein fragment. - [How a Specific Peptide Boosts the Immune System Against Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11542303/peptides-and-combination-thereof-for-use-in-the-immunotherapy-against-cancers) — This patent describes a specific peptide sequence, KESDGFHRF, combined with immune-boosting substances and a safe delivery method, for use in treating cancer through immunotherapy.