New research discovers how the body’s natural defenses can be activated to combat cancer.
Our immune system can be activated to fight cancer cells, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Quadram Institute.
The study, which was published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could aid in the development of novel techniques for treating leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming tissues, hindering the body’s ability to fight infection, patients.
Dr Stuart Rushworth of the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School conducted the study, which was carried out in partnership with the Quadram Institute, the Earlham Institute, and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (UK).
The researchers discovered a method for activating the immune system to fight leukemia cells.
The researchers discovered that a protein known as STING (Stimulator of interferon genes), a well-known immune system activator, could be used to program macrophages to target cancer cells.
According to Dr. Stuart Rushworth: “Our results provide insight into how the immune system is able to be utilised to attack cancers if given the right signals.
“Patients often relapse following treatment for cancer, because small amounts of disease remain despite chemotherapy. Our research reveals that targeting this biological phenomenon could help eradicate the leukaemia from the bone marrow.”
These processes were discovered in the bone marrow of leukemia patients and mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia, according to the researchers.
Dr. Rushworth added: “At present, sadly chemotherapy is often not enough to cure people of leukaemia. In the future, I hope our findings will help improve treatments for people with leukaemia by priming their immune response to help the chemotherapy drugs work better.”
Dr. Naiara Beraza from Quadram Institute said: “In this study we have contributed to uncover a novel mechanism by which cancer cells control the body’s immune response to promote their own growth. This finding will enable future improved therapeutics to treat leukaemia.”
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