Scientists at City of Hope have made a groundbreaking discovery that could significantly improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments, particularly for hard-to-treat blood cancers. Researchers identified a key protein called YTHDF2, which helps cancer cells evade the immune system during CAR T cell therapy.
CAR T cell therapy is an advanced treatment that trains the immune system to find and destroy tumor cells. However, some cancer cells have developed ways to hide from the immune system, making the treatment less effective. The new study published in the journal Cell found that YTHDF2 plays a critical role in helping blood cancer cells survive and spread.
To combat this issue, City of Hope developed a new drug compound called CCI-38, which targets and suppresses YTHDF2. This compound slows the growth of aggressive blood cancers and increases the chances of successful treatment. The researchers believe that using CCI-38 to target YTHDF2 will significantly enhance the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy on blood cancer cells.
The discovery has significant implications for improving care for patients with other cancers and severe autoimmune diseases. While ovarian cancer was not specifically mentioned in the provided text, it is worth noting that research into new treatments and therapies continues to be an active area of investigation.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-crack-cancers-hidden-defense-with-a-breakthrough-protein-discovery