Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against cancer by reprogramming T cells to make them more effective at attacking tumors. By blocking a protein called Ant2, scientists were able to alter how these immune cells consume and generate energy, essentially rewiring their internal power supply.
This shift makes T cells more active, resilient, and better at recognizing and killing cancer cells. The discovery opens the door to new treatments that could strengthen the body’s own immune response, offering a smarter, more targeted approach to cancer therapy.
The research team, led by Ph.D. student Omri Yosef and Prof. Michael Berger from Hebrew University, found that fine-tuning immune cells’ metabolism dramatically improves their ability to destroy cancer. By deliberately disrupting a specific energy pathway inside T cells, the team reprogrammed them into stronger, faster, and more aggressive cancer fighters.
The study showed that this metabolic rewiring can be triggered not only through genetic modifications but also with drugs, opening the door for potential clinical applications. The implications of this breakthrough are promising: new treatments that harness the body’s own defenses, fine-tuned for peak performance.
The research highlights how deeply interconnected metabolism and immunity truly are, according to Prof. Berger. By learning how to control the power source of our immune cells, scientists may be able to unlock therapies that are both more natural and more effective.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-powering-cells-path-cancer-immunotherapy.html