Researchers say they have discovered a “kill switch” that can trigger the death of cancer cells.
Scientists at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento, California, have identified a protein on the CD95 receptor that can “program” cancer cells to die, as detailed in a study published in the journal Cell Death & Differentiation last month.
Receptors are proteins in cells that receive and transmit signals.
The CD95 receptor — also referred to as Fas — has earned the nickname “death receptor” because it sends a signal that causes cancer cells to “self-destruct,” according to a press release from UC Davis.
“Previous attempts to target this receptor have been unsuccessful. But now that we’ve identified this epitope (target), there may be a therapeutic path forward to target Fas in tumors,” Jogender Tushir-Singh, an associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and senior author of the study, said in the release.
Experts hope that future cancer drugs can increase the activity of this CD95 receptor to create new weapons against cancerous tumors, which have historically been treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Immune-based therapies, such as CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy, have shown promise for a subset of patients, but have limited efficacy against many types of cancer.
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“Despite good success in liquid tumors, such as leukemia spectrum cancers, long-term remission remains the biggest challenge for CAR T-cell therapy,” Tushir-Singh told Fox News Digital in an email.
The CD95 receptor — also referred to as Fas — has earned the nickname “death receptor” because it sends a signal that causes cancer cells to “self-destruct,” according to a press release from UC Davis.dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
A bigger challenge with this therapy — which typically costs $500,000 or more — is that it has shown only “modest success” in treating solid tumors, the researchers said.
“Our study provides a comprehensive solution with the potential to turn the small success of CAR-T therapy into a potential success. [therapies for] solid tumors.”
The newly discovered “kill switch” could kill tumor cells while also helping to make immunotherapy more effective — a “potential one-two punch against tumors,” the statement said.
So far, no CD95-enhancing drug has made it into clinical trials.
“Despite many successes in the field of cancer immunotherapeutics, targeting Fas remains neglected, mainly due to fear of retaliation against T-cells of the immune system,” Tushir-Singh told Fox News Digital.
The study had some limitations — namely, there was limited data from clinical trials, the researchers said.
Tushir-Singh points out, however, that cancer researchers can now go back and collect human tumor samples from clinical trials and perform new analyzes based on these findings.
“It is clear that the success of CAR-T therapy depends on off-target killing by Fas,” he told Fox News Digital.
“With the current information, we researchers and doctors should screen potential cancer patients – who will undergo CAR-T therapy – to check the comprehensive presence of Fas in their tumors,” he said.
“If a patient does not have Fas expression in their tumor, we need to find a way to safely manipulate this tumor and start making it Fas before giving expensive CAR therapy. The latter will likely make CAR stronger in long-term efficacy.”
Looking ahead, Tushir-Singh said she is hopeful for the future of cancer treatment.
“Due to the advent of cancer immunotherapy and other targeted therapies, overall cancer rates in the past decade have decreased significantly,” he said.
“I read every day the amazing research that is happening in the US to beat cancer. People should stay positive.”
Tushir-Singh added, “The next success is just one attempt away.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
