How One Vitamin is Revolutionizing Our Natural Defense Against Cancer Revealed by New Study

This vitamin not only hunts down cancer cells but handily destroys them by enhancing natural killer cell survival, says a new study.

Research suggests that utilizing a commonly known vitamin might increase the efficacy of natural killer cells in combatting cancer.

Patients diagnosed with cancer have shown encouraging results when treated with natural killer cells acquired from donors. These cells are part of the immune system, specifically designed to detect and eliminate malignant cells.

Researchers discovered that when these cells are treated with nicotinamide, also known as niacin or vitamin B3, their potential to combat cancer cells improves significantly.

Early results indicate potential success in pushing the most persistent blood cancers into a state of remission.

This intriguing approach was shared in Science Translational Medicine.

Prior attempts to leverage these cells in treating cancers like leukemias and lymphomas did not always yield consistent results. However, a distinct strategy developed by the University of Minnesota’s Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation is proving otherwise.

They found that treating the cells with nicotinamide heightened their therapeutic prowess, leading to remissions in previously untreatable cases.

Dr. Frank Cichocki and colleagues, in their recent publication, highlighted the potential of allogeneic natural killer cell transfer to bring about remissions in stubborn blood cancers.

“Allogeneic natural killer cell adoptive transfer has shown the potential to induce remissions in relapsed or refractory leukemias and lymphomas.

“We demonstrated that natural killer cells cultured ex vivo with interleukin-15—IL-15—and nicotinamide exhibited stable induction of l-selectin, a lymphocyte adhesion molecule important for lymph node homing.”

Nicotinamide plays a fundamental role in our metabolic system, facilitating the conversion of food into energy. Its historical significance can’t be ignored. Decades ago, it was identified as the curative agent for pellegra, a disease marked by severe dementia, diarrhea, and skin disorders.

This study, however, redirects attention to nicotinamide, underscoring its potential to amplify the cancer-combatting attributes of natural killer cells. Originating from the innate immune system, these cells are the body’s primary defense line against cancers and infections.

Researchers refining this novel treatment are optimistic about its prospects. If the therapy stands robust through further evaluations, it could reshape the landscape of blood cancer treatments.

Detailing their findings, Dr. Cichocki mentions, “We conducted a first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial testing adoptive transfer of natural killer cells expanded ex vivo with IL-15 and nicotinamide combined with monoclonal antibodies in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.”

In an initial study, Cichocki’s team observed that nicotinamide not only amplified the efficiency of natural killer cells but also prolonged their presence in the bloodstream. This enhanced the cells’ ability to detect and effectively eliminate cancer cells.

In a sample of 30 patients, the combination of nicotinamide-treated natural killer cells and monoclonal antibody therapy was deemed safe. Specifically, of 19 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 11 showed a total response, and three indicated a partial response within a month of treatment. The team discerned that nicotinamide shields these cells from oxidative damage while amplifying their ability to target lymph nodes.

Cichocki highlighted the prevalence of CD62L, a molecule aiding natural killer cells in reaching lymph nodes. It’s associated with the transcription factor FOXO1, which governs numerous genes involved in metabolic processes, cell growth, and programmed cell death.

In the realm of cancer, FOXO1 acts as a guardian, promoting cell death and curbing cell growth, new blood vessel formation, and cancer spread.

Cichocki, the primary author, pointed out that nicotinamide helps maintain FOXO1 stability by preventing its degradation. When natural killer cells are treated with nicotinamide, they undergo metabolic shifts that result in increased energy production and enhanced resilience against oxidative harm.

Moreover, these cells, when exposed to nicotinamide in a lab setting, showcased a heightened inflammatory reaction against cancer cells. Given these promising results, Cichocki and his team believe there’s a strong case for expanding their research into more comprehensive clinical trials.

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