After discovering how the immune system of the body targets cancer-ravaged cells, scientists are on the approach of a significant breakthrough in the fight against the disease.
According to a recent study, human immune
system's natural killer cells, which guard against infections and illness, have
an innate ability to identify and target a protein that promotes the formation
of cancer.
The experts say that by hijacking this protein,
known as XPO1, they may be able to activate more killer cells to destroy the
disease.
Scientists from the University of Southampton,
working with experts worldwide, led the study and now believe it could offer
new and less invasive forms of treatments.
The findings have been published in the Science
Advances journal.
Lead author Professor of Hepatology Salim
Khakoo, from Southampton, said it was previously believed that killer cells
attack cancer cells in a random manner.
He added: "Our findings actually show how
our body's immune system recognises and attacks these cancer cells.
"Killer cells are an emerging form of
immunotherapy that shows huge promise.
"They don't attack healthy tissue in the
way chemotherapy and other immunotherapies do, so are safer and have less
side-effects than traditional forms of cancer treatment."
The XPO1 protein examined by the scientists is
essential for normal cell function.
However, in many cancers, it becomes overactive
and allows malignant cells to multiply unchecked.
The Southampton scientists found that a peptide
- short chains of amino acids - derived from the XPO1 protein attracted the
natural killer cells.
This, they say, triggers the body's immune
response against the cancerous cells.
Prof Khakoo added: "Patients with cancer
who had both active killer cells and high levels of XPO1 had significantly
better survival rates.
"This holds true for a range of cancers
including those with higher rates of death such as liver cancer, which has an
average survival rate of only 18 months.
"As well as liver cancer, killer cell
treatment in the future could be used to treat head and neck cancers,
endometrial, bladder or breast cancer."
Previous studies have linked natural killer
cells to the body's protection against cancer.
But the latest study is the first of its kind to
highlight a viable technique of activating killer cells - to target the XPO1
protein - to fight the disease.
Co-author Professor Ralf Schittenhelm, from
Monash University in Australia, said the discovery could change the course of
immunotherapy.
"We hope it could lead to personalised
cancer treatment, especially in cases where traditional therapies have failed.
"The potential to develop targeted
therapies that utilise the body's own immune system is incredibly
exciting."
The scientific team at Southampton are now working on the development of the world's first vaccine that uses natural killer cells to fight cancer.
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