Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers for women, and more than two-thirds of deaths from this disease are caused by a specific and aggressive type called high-grade serous carcinoma.
In some of the most difficult cases, very few immune cells are found near the tumor. These tumors are known as “immunologically cold” because the immune system does not respond to them.
Scientists at University Medicine Halle have made a breakthrough that could help improve treatment for this deadly cancer. The research was led by Professor Stefan Hüttelmaier, Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine, and involved studying hundreds of tumors from patients, including fresh samples from local surgeries.
They discovered a special protein called IGF2BP1 that helps the tumor hide from the immune system. Normally, the immune system can detect cancer cells through unique molecules on their surface. These molecules act like a fingerprint, warning the body that something is wrong.
But in tumors with high levels of IGF2BP1, this fingerprint is altered so much that the immune system can no longer recognize the cancer cells. This makes immune therapies much less effective.
Dr. Nadine Bley, the first author of the study, explained that IGF2BP1 works like a cloaking device, making cancer cells invisible to the body’s defenses. Because of this, current immune checkpoint therapies—treatments that “release the brakes” on the immune system—do not work well on these tumors.
To find a solution, the researchers tested what happens when they block the IGF2BP1 protein. They used lab-grown cells and mouse models to see how well the tumors responded to treatment. They compared four groups: no treatment, immune checkpoint therapy alone, IGF2BP1 blocking alone, and a combination of both therapies.
The results were promising. When they used both the IGF2BP1 blocker and immune checkpoint therapy together, they saw a large increase in immune cells and a decrease in tumor cells. The tumors became easier for the immune system to attack. In other words, the scientists were able to turn “cold” tumors into “hot” ones that respond better to treatment.
Professor Hüttelmaier pointed out that IGF2BP1 is usually only active during early stages of life, like during embryonic development. Since it is rarely found in healthy adults, it makes an ideal target for cancer treatment. Blocking this protein seems to wake up the immune system and allow it to fight the cancer more effectively.
This study is the first to show that targeting an RNA-binding protein like IGF2BP1 can help the immune system overcome its resistance to ovarian cancer. Before this new treatment can be tested in human patients, more studies are needed to make sure it is safe and does not cause serious side effects.
The research team is now working on improving the drugs that block IGF2BP1. They are also trying to make these drugs more stable in the body so they can stay active longer and fight the tumor more effectively. Some of these experimental drugs have already been patented, and the researchers are hopeful about the future.
This groundbreaking study could lead to new hope for patients with this aggressive type of ovarian cancer. It was published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
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