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Treatment of solid tumors remains challenging and therapeutic strategies require continuous development. Tumor-infiltrating macrophages play a pivotal role in tumor dynamics. Here, we present a Macrophage-Drug Conjugate (MDC) platform technology that enables loading macrophages with ferritin-drug complexes. We first show that macrophages actively take up human heavy chain ferritin (HFt) in vitro via macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1). We further manifest that drug-loaded macrophages transfer ferritin to adjacent cancer cells through a process termed ‘TRAnsfer of Iron-binding protein’ (TRAIN). The TRAIN process requires direct cell-to-cell contact and an immune synapse-like structure. At last, MDCs with various anti-cancer drugs are formulated with their safety and anti-tumor efficacy validated in multiple syngeneic mice and orthotopic human tumor models via different routes of administration. Importantly, MDCs can be prepared in advance and used as thawed products, supporting their clinical applicability. This MDC approach thus represents a promising advancement in the therapeutic landscape for solid tumors. Treatment strategy of solid tumors requires continuous development. Here the authors develop a Macrophage Drug Conjugate (MDC) platform by loading ferritin-drug complexes to macrophages. MDC transfers the ferritin to cancer cells via ‘TRAnsfer of Iron binding protein’ (TRAIN) process and reduces tumor volume in various mouse tumor models.

Background: Nutrition knowledge may be translated into adequate dietary intake and proper eating habits, so adolescent education programs focusing on improving eating habits and nutrition knowledge are needed. The aim of the cross-sectional study with pair-matched controls was to assess the Consumer Nutrition Knowledge Scale (CoNKS) results and its determinants after one year of intervention in a national extracurricular athletics program within a pair-matched sample of Polish adolescents. Methods: The #goathletics Study evaluated a Polish national extracurricular athletics program, ‘Athletics for all’, being a voluntary and free-of-charge physical activity program organized by the Polish Athletics Association. The study allowed comparing the intervention group of adolescents aged 10–14 years, participating in the program for at least 9 months (a school year) and a pair-matched group not participating in it, while the matching was based on city, gender, and age (each group: n = 506 adolescents, n = 281 females and n = 225 males). The nutrition knowledge was assessed using a Consumer Nutrition Knowledge Scale (CoNKS), and during the analysis, the following factors were taken into account: body weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Results: The ‘Athletics for all’ program participation influenced not only the total CoNKS score (p < 0.0001) but also the scores in all studied areas—within procedural nutrition knowledge (p = 0.0002), declarative nutrition knowledge on nutrients (p = 0.0001), and declarative nutrition knowledge on calories (p < 0.0001), and program participants revealed a stronger understanding of all the studied areas compared to non-participating individuals. Gender, BMI, and central obesity tendency were not associated with the total CoNKS score (p > 0.05), or any of the studied areas (p > 0.05). The statistically significant differences in the number of correct answers were observed for four items within procedural nutrition knowledge, for four items within declarative nutrition knowledge on nutrients, and for four items within declarative nutrition knowledge on calories (p < 0.05), while for all of them, ‘Athletics for all’ program participants revealed a stronger understanding. Conclusions: One year of intervention in a national extracurricular athletics program significantly influenced the nutrition knowledge of the studied group of adolescents aged 10–14 years. While compared with the pair-matched control group of Polish adolescents, they were characterized by a stronger understanding of all areas of nutrition knowledge.

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the physical activity level and commitment in adolescents, which has resulted in a body weight increase, and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that this negative trend must be now counteracted. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of food habits and participation in a national extracurricular athletics program (Athletics for All) on body weight within a pair-matched sample of Polish adolescents after one year of intervention. The #goathletics Study was conducted in a population of Polish adolescents within two pair-matched groups: 506 adolescents aged 10–14, including 281 female and 225 male adolescents, regularly participating in Athletics for All program for at least 9 months (one school year) (intervention group), and a pair-matched control group (matched taking into account city, gender, and age). The #goathletics Study included the assessment of the body weight, which was conducted based on the growth reference charts for Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference to verify central fatness. Athletics for All participation and food habits were verified as determinants of body weight, while food habits were assessed using the validated Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC). While compared the intervention group and control group, statistically significant differences were observed for body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, both for crude and relative values, with adolescents participating in the Athletics for All program presenting a lower risk of excessive body weight and central fatness (p < 0.05), while, compared to sub-groups stratified by AFHC score, no statistically significant differences in general anthropometric characteristics were observed (p > 0.05). While the body weight centile, height centile, BMI centile and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed as the resultant variables, it was revealed that participation in the Athletics for All program is the only influencing factor in multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) for body weight centile (F = 21.44; p < 0.0001) and BMI centile (F = 47.98; p < 0.0001), but for height centile and WHtR, none of the assessed factors influenced these variables. It was concluded that regularly participating in the Athletics for All program for at least 9 months was the only determinant of a lower risk of excessive body weight in adolescents, with declared food habits and gender not being significant.