"Removing a single gene can increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mouse models."
Study Reveals How Some Colon Cancers Evade the Immune System
Researchers at the University of Calgary have published a study in Cell Reports Medicine identifying a mechanism by which some colon cancers evade the immune system. The research demonstrates that removing a single gene can increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mouse models.
Key Findings
The research team, led by Dr. Arshad Ayyaz, found that a subset of colon cancers resist immunotherapy by secreting a specific protein that suppresses the immune response. In laboratory experiments, the gene encoding this protein was removed from colon cancer cells.
In mouse models, combining this gene knockout with immunotherapy resulted in the complete eradication of tumors.
The study also reported that tumors shrank after the gene was removed, even without the administration of immunotherapy.
Background and Context
Immunotherapy trains the immune system to attack tumor cells. However, according to the study, only about 15% of colon cancers currently respond to this type of treatment. The research identified a new type of cancer cell responsible for secreting the protein that hides tumors from the immune system.
Statements from Researchers
Dr. Ayyaz stated that the findings represent fundamental research and are still far from clinical application. He noted that similar immune evasion mechanisms might exist in other solid tumors, such as pancreatic or lung cancer, where immunotherapy is often ineffective.
The research is focused on understanding how cancers hide from a functional immune system, which complements other approaches that aim to boost immune effectiveness.