Tel Aviv, Israel—A groundbreaking study by researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) and their U.S. colleagues has unveiled an antibody-based treatment that empowers the immune system to effectively attack cancer cells and prevent their spread.
The research, focusing on triple-negative breast cancer—a particularly aggressive form—revealed that these cancer cells cause nearby immune cells to form “molecular bridges.” These bridges inhibit immune cells from targeting the tumor, leading to immune suppression.
The team explained that while the cancer cells express minimal levels of the protein CD84 needed to build these bridges, they induce surrounding immune cells to produce large quantities of CD84. This creates a network that effectively shields the tumor from immune attack.
The antibody treatment developed by the researchers works by blocking the formation of these molecular bridges, thereby restoring the immune system’s ability to mount a robust response against cancer cells. In mouse models, administering the antibody halted tumor progression, with some cases leading to complete recovery.
Significantly, higher levels of CD84 in patients’ tumors were associated with shorter survival times, underscoring the protein’s role in cancer progression. Experiments with genetically engineered mice lacking CD84 showed reduced tumor growth, highlighting how CD84 suppresses T cell activity within the tumor environment.
“Our antibody selectively targets cells with elevated CD84 levels, sparing healthy immune cells that express this protein at lower levels,” noted the research team. “This precision could minimize side effects and enhance treatment efficacy.”
The researchers suggest that this innovative approach could be applied to various cancer types by focusing on the tumor microenvironment rather than the cancer cells themselves. By disrupting the protective molecular bridges, the immune system can be reactivated to fight different forms of cancer.
This study offers a promising new direction in cancer treatment, emphasizing the importance of the tumor microenvironment in immune suppression and highlighting the potential of antibody therapies to overcome these challenges.
Reference(s):
New antibody treatment boosts immune response against tumors: study
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