IL-7-CBD

**IL-7-CBD** is an engineered fusion protein composed of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and a collagen-binding domain (CBD) derived from the A3 domain of von Willebrand factor, fused to the C-terminus of IL-7. The CBD component allows IL-7-CBD to preferentially bind to collagen within the tumor stroma, enhancing local retention and bioavailability in the tumor microenvironment. IL-7-CBD retains full IL-7 receptor agonist activity, stimulating phosphorylation of STAT5 in T cells and supporting T cell survival, proliferation, and anti-exhaustion signals. Mechanistically, IL-7-CBD promotes persistence and effector function of CD8+ T cells, limits terminal exhaustion, and facilitates long-term functional immune memory. In preclinical models, IL-7-CBD monotherapy extends survival versus unmodified IL-7, and synergizes with CBD–IL-12 to produce superior anti-tumor effects with reduced systemic toxicity compared to high-dose cytokine therapy. The agent has been shown to be effective in CPI-sensitive and CPI-resistant tumor models, making it a promising candidate for cancer immunotherapy development[1][2].