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Researchers discover how cancer hides

Date:
October 28, 2013
Source:
National Jewish Health
Summary:
Researchers have discovered how a lipid secreted by cancer tumors prevents the immune system from mounting an immune response against it. When lysophosphatidic acid binds to killer T cells, it acts almost like an "invisibility cloak," preventing T cells from recognizing and attacking nascent tumors.
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Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how a lipid secreted by cancer tumors prevents the immune system from mounting an immune response against it. When lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) binds to killer T cells, it acts almost like an "invisibility cloak," preventing T cells from recognizing and attacking nascent tumors.

"In recent years, several therapeutic medicines have been developed that spur a person's own immune system to fight cancer," said Raul Torres, PhD, professor of immunology at National Jewish Health, and senior author on the paper, published in the October issue of Cancer Immunology Research. "Our findings suggest new targets and strategies for enlisting the immune system's help in fighting cancer."

Scientists believe the human immune system recognizes and destroys many cancerous cells before they develop into dangerous tumors. However, tumors also employ strategies to evade detection by the immune system.

Scientists have known that LPA is secreted by many types of cancer cells, appears to promote the growth and spread of tumor cells, and that immune cells known as CD-8 "killer" T cells have several receptors for LPA. Killer T cells can destroy cancer cells when activated against them.

In the new paper, researchers led by Dr. Torres showed that LPA keeps T cells inactivated even after they have "seen" a target, or antigen, on a cancer cell that would normally trigger an immune response. They identified the LPA5 receptor as the specific receptor responsible for inhibiting the immune response. In cell cultures and in mice LPA prevented signaling within cells, the appearance of molecules associated with T-cell activation, and proliferation of the T cells. When they transferred T cells lacking the LPA5 receptor into mice with cancer, tumor growth essentially halted.

"Knowing specifically how LPA inhibits the immune response suggests several strategies for harnessing the immune system's natural ability to fight cancer," said Dr. Torres.


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Materials provided by National Jewish Health. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. S. K. Oda, P. Strauch, Y. Fujiwara, A. Al-Shami, T. Oravecz, G. Tigyi, R. Pelanda, R. M. Torres. Lysophosphatidic Acid Inhibits CD8 T-cell Activation and Control of Tumor Progression. Cancer Immunology Research, 2013; 1 (4): 245 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-13-0043-T

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National Jewish Health. "Researchers discover how cancer hides." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 October 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131028134953.htm>.
National Jewish Health. (2013, October 28). Researchers discover how cancer hides. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131028134953.htm
National Jewish Health. "Researchers discover how cancer hides." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131028134953.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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