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In a breakthrough that could increase the effectiveness of treatments for one of the most common and deadly types of brain cancer, Israeli scientists have found that certain cancer-fighting immune cells later “switch sides” to help protect the tumor.
Tel Aviv University researchers have found that “transformed” white blood cells called neutrophils, known to kill bacteria and fungi, fight hard against glioblastoma, but then change their behavior and eventually promote its growth. .
Glioblastoma, the most common type of brain cancer, is one of the deadliest, with an average patient life expectancy of 12 to 15 months from the time of detection.
“These immune cells are initially like an army that both kills tumor cells and also recruits other immune cells like T cells to help fight cancer,” said lead researcher Dr Dinorah Friedmann- Morvinski, The Times of Israel. “Then in many cases they start protecting the tumor and preventing other immune cells from accessing it, essentially protecting the tumor and letting it grow further.
“Plus, it secretes proteins that actually contribute to tumor development. In short, cells first mobilized by the tumor itself, as anti-cancerous, become pro-cancerous. As a result, they worsen the damage that the tumor itself creates, ”she said.
Scientists made their breakthrough by observing genetically engineered mice with glioblastoma. They then tested the hypothesis by analyzing sequencing data from hundreds of glioblastoma patients, which gives them a picture of cancer progression in each patient.
The peer-reviewed research, published in the journal Cell Reports, will likely pave the way for improving the effectiveness of glioblastoma treatments, Friedmann-Morvinski predicted.
Illustrative image: A brain MRI showing brain cancer (iStock via Getty Images)
She said that now cells are known to act as “double agents”, drugs can be developed that completely block their impact, only block them once they stop attacking the tumor, or maybe even prevent their “defection” and force them to continue targeting. the tumor.
Her team, which includes doctoral student Prerna Magod, is already working on efforts to develop such drugs.
“If we are successful with this, we think we will be able to keep these cells on the ‘right side’,” Friedmann-Morvinski commented.
“It will increase the chances that immunotherapy will work without cells counteracting its impact. As such, our discovery and our efforts to identify drugs are important. “
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