Researchers have discovered a werewolf molecule in the body that disables immune defenses and promotes tumor growth.
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How does a tumor begin and why does it start to grow and spread throughout the body? Doctors and scientists do not have definitive answers to these questions. According to experts, there does not seem to be a single mechanism. The options may be different and the more we learn about them, the greater the chances of creating new methods for the successful treatment of many cancers. A recent discovery by scientists at the University of Rochester (USA) could be an important step on this path. Researchers have discovered a werewolf molecule in the body that disables immune defenses and promotes tumor growth.
How exactly does this happen and what could change in the fight against cancer thanks to new scientific data? KP.RU spoke about this with Nikolai Kryuchkov, immunologist, candidate of medical sciences, expert in drug development, research and registration, general director of a contract research company.
IMMUNITY TRICK
“Each of us produces tumour cells in our body every day,” says the expert. “But our immune system constantly monitors everything, inspects different parts of the body. And, among other things, it catches and destroys pathologically altered cells that can trigger the development of cancer. However, in some cases, the tumour cell acquires the ability to send a signal to the immune system: “Don’t touch me, I belong to you.”
Thanks to this, a dangerous enemy avoids destruction. Conditions are created for the growth of a malignant neoplasm, explains Nikolai Kryuchkov. At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, researchers through experiments discovered one of the mechanisms that tumors use to trick the immune system. And scientists were able to create drugs that prevent cancer cells from camouflaging themselves in order to survive. A revolutionary trend has emerged in oncology – immunotherapy. The discovery by specialists from the University of Rochester sheds light on another important mechanism that could become the basis for new immunotherapeutic methods to combat cancer, says Kryuchkov.
HOW PROTECTION BECOMES A THREAT
One of the defense reactions of our body is inflammation. The immune system starts such a “fire” that kills viruses, harmful bacteria and our own damaged cells, including tumor cells. The inflammatory process is extremely complex and involves many components of the immune system. One of them is a molecule called platelet-activating factor (PAF). It is produced not only by our own blood cells – platelets, but also by many others (immune cells, neutrophils, basophils, etc.). In the normal course of events, PAF helps the body to destroy enemies.
– However, failures can occur for various reasons. At some point, it happens that too many platelet-activating factors are synthesized at the tumor site, says Nikolai Kryuchkov. – And then these molecules drastically change their role. Instead of helping the immune system, they begin to protect cancer cells from it! In particular, PAFs reprogram certain immune cells – neutrophils. The latter also turn from being defenders of the body into tumor promoters (they become suppressors, i.e. they suppress the immune system).
If we neutralize PAF werewolf molecules in cancer patients, we can reactivate the disarmed immune system. And it will attack the tumor, suggest the authors of the scientific discovery.
WHAT WILL CHANGE FOR PATIENTS?
So far, only the mechanism itself by which cancer cells evade the immune system has been discovered (more precisely, one of these ways, the other was discovered earlier, when immunotherapy appeared; see above).
– Next, scientists will have to find ways to block the negative effects of PAF. Various substances will be tested for this purpose, explains Nikolai Kryuchkov. – If we manage to find a successful option, then further research can begin before the drug is released. This involves preclinical trials in various animal models and then in humans. I think that, in the best case scenario, clinical trials with the first volunteers could begin in five years.
If the new drug is developed and proven effective, it could theoretically be suitable for treating a large number of different types of cancer, the expert suggests. While existing immunotherapeutic agents, although saving many lives, do not yet work for everyone. “The authors of the scientific paper believe that they have discovered exactly the basic mechanism characteristic of most types of tumors. Therefore, this could be an important contribution to the fight against cancer,” says Kriuchkov.
INSTEAD OF AN EPILOGUE
Don’t rely on sensations about creating a panacea.
Both our drug research and development experts and our oncologists always warn against unreasonable hopes.
– Even the most effective immunotherapy will not work alone for a patient with stage 3-4 cancer. Yes, it can help save lives, but only in combination with other methods: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical treatment. In any case, this is not a panacea, says Nikolai Kryuchkov.
And experts once again urge not to trust the sensations about “the latest methods of cancer treatment with 99% effectiveness”. At best, this is a misinterpretation of purely scientific laboratory data, according to which the effectiveness in humans is like walking to the moon. And at worst, it is a complete fraud. There will definitely not be a single, universal method of treating all types of cancer. This is too cunning an enemy; it is necessary to fight it with a whole arsenal of means, oncologists emphasize. Fortunately, we have more and more powerful and sophisticated methods of countering the “disease of the century”.
