Home / Health / Scientists Discover How Tumors Hide From Immune System
Scientists Discover How Tumors Hide From Immune System
27 Jan
Summary
- MYC gene helps pancreatic tumors hide from the immune system.
- Blocking MYC caused a 94% tumor shrinkage in animal studies.
- New therapy could target tumors without harming healthy cells.
A groundbreaking study from the University of Würzburg in Germany has revealed a potential mechanism by which pancreatic cancer, notorious as the "silent killer," conceals itself from the immune system. Researchers discovered that the MYC gene, crucial for cancer cell growth, also acts as a camouflage, suppressing the alarm signals that would otherwise activate the immune system to attack the tumor.
In experiments involving animals, disrupting this camouflage process led to a significant reduction in tumors. Tumors with defective MYC proteins collapsed by 94% within 28 days, provided the animals' immune systems were intact. This contrasts sharply with tumors having normal MYC, which grew 24-fold in the same period.
These findings pave the way for innovative cancer therapies. Future drugs could be developed to make tumors visible and vulnerable to the body's natural defenses, ideally without impacting healthy cells. Pancreatic cancer is a major concern in the UK, causing approximately 10,000 deaths annually and possessing one of the lowest survival rates among common cancers.
The Cancer Grand Challenges KOODAC team, which led this research, is focused on developing targeted treatments for MYC-driven cancers, including those affecting children. This collaborative, international effort highlights how understanding tumor evasion tactics can unlock new treatment possibilities for various cancer types.
