US unveils drug to boost effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Researchers from one of the leading cancer research and treatment centres in the US have identified a key protein that enables blood cancer cells to evade immune detection. 

Scientists have identified a crucial protein that allows cancer cells to evade detection by the immune system during a form of advanced therapy, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

By developing a new drug to block this protein, researchers aim to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments, particularly for challenging blood cancers. This breakthrough could lead to higher survival rates and fewer recurrences for patients.

Researchers at City of Hope, one of the top cancer research and treatment centres in the US, have pinpointed a key mechanism that helps cancer cells escape CAR T cell therapy.

CAR T cell therapy is an innovative cancer treatment that trains the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells. It is especially effective for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma, both of which are blood cancers. However, some cancer cells have adapted strategies to hide from the immune system, reducing the therapy's effectiveness. A new study, published on December 17 in Cell journal, could lead to more personalized treatments that improve patient outcomes.

Researchers have identified a protein known as YTHDF2, which plays a crucial role in helping blood cancer cells survive and spread. In response, City of Hope has developed a new drug compound, CCI-38, which targets and inhibits YTHDF2, slowing the growth of aggressive blood cancers and improving the chances of successful treatment.

“We believe that using CCI-38 to target YTHDF2 will significantly enhance the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy against blood cancer cells,” said Jianjun Chen, Ph.D., Simms/Mann Family Foundation Chair in Systems Biology and director of the Center for RNA Biology and Therapeutics at Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope.

“One of the challenges in treating blood cancers is a phenomenon called ‘antigen escape.’ A key target for these therapies is a protein called CD19 found on cancer cells,” added Dr. Chen, the corresponding author of the study.

However, in 28-68 per cent of cases, cancer cells reduce or lose the CD19 marker, making treatments less effective. Despite ongoing efforts to target multiple factors, this issue still affects nearly half of patients.

YTHDF2 activates genes that help cancer cells generate a stable energy source, enabling them to grow and spread. Additionally, this protein helps cancer cells hide by lowering the presence of antigen markers that would normally trigger the immune system to detect and attack the cancer. In animal studies, excessive YTHDF2 also promotes the transformation of healthy blood cells into cancerous ones, similar to the effects of a werewolf’s bite.

By Naila Huseynova