1334-TIGIT-IL-12 Fusion Protein for Tumor Immunotherapy

The research article introduces T-12, an innovative immunocytokine designed to treat solid tumors by fusing the IL-12 cytokine with an anti-TIGIT antibody fragment. This molecular design allows the therapy to selectively target and activate natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells directly within the tumor microenvironment. By localizing the potent effects of IL-12 to the malignancy, the researchers successfully reduced the systemic toxicity typically associated with wild-type cytokine treatments. Experimental results demonstrate that T-12 effectively suppresses checkpoint-resistant tumors, eliminates metastasis, and converts immunologically "cold" environments into active zones of antitumor immunity. Ultimately, the study highlights T-12 as a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional immunotherapies for managing diverse and advanced cancers.

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• Tang M, Huang Y, Bi J, et al. TIGIT-targeted IL-12 fusion protein engages NK and CD8+ T cells for potent tumor immunotherapy[J]. Cell Reports Medicine, 2026.