Scientists at City of Hope have identified a key protein that helps cancer cells avoid detection by the immune system during CAR T cell therapy, a treatment effective against blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma. The protein YTHDF2 plays a crucial role in helping cancer cells survive and spread, but blocking it with a new drug compound CCI-38 could improve treatment outcomes.
CAR T cell therapy is a cancer treatment that genetically alters a patient’s T cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells. However, some cancer cells have developed ways to hide from the immune system, making the treatment less effective. The newly discovered protein YTHDF2 helps blood cancer cells survive by switching on genes that provide them with a stable energy source.
By blocking YTHDF2 with CCI-38, researchers hope to make CAR T cell therapy more effective, especially for hard-to-treat blood cancers. This breakthrough could lead to better survival rates and fewer relapses for patients. The study’s findings suggest that targeting this protein may offer personalized treatment options for patients who do not respond to current therapies.
The research team is now focusing on improving CCI-38’s safety and effectiveness, with plans for clinical trials ahead. If successful, the new treatment could reduce the need for follow-up treatments, leading to better long-term survival and less relapse for patients while lowering side effects and medical costs.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/scientists-uncovers-a-protein-that-helps-cancer-cells-hide-all-about-the-breakthrough-discovery/articleshow/116444012.cms