UCalgary study tears off colon cancer's invisibility cloak

6 hours ago

A University of Calgary study found that eliminating a single gene improves immunotherapy for colorectal cancer, calling it a fundamental breakthrough.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer in Canada and the third leading cause of cancer death, with rising cases in people under 50.
The research identified a new type of cancer cell that secretes a protein acting as an 'invisibility cloak,' hiding tumors from the immune system.
Knocking out the gene coding for this protein made tumors visible to the immune system, leading to 100% eradication in mouse models when paired with immunotherapy.
Even without immunotherapy, tumors shrank after gene removal, showing they could no longer hide from the body's natural immune response.
The findings, though still far from clinical use, may apply to other solid tumors like pancreatic or lung cancer, where immunotherapy is often ineffective.
The study's approach focuses on how cancers hide from the immune system, contrasting with most research aimed at boosting immune system effectiveness.

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