Antibody slows the growth and spread cancer cells found

A group of scientists, from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, has found an antibody that slows the growth and spread of common cancers.

The researchers found that the antibody inhibited the spread of lung, breast, melanoma and prostate cancer cells. It was doing this by activating immune cells which are known as Natural Killer (NK) cells.

The study lead author, Professor Mark Smyth, said that one kind of protein called CD96 sits on the surface of Natural Killer immune cells and stops the cells from becoming over-activated and attacking the body’s own healthy cells.

Smyth added that they previously found that cancers hijacked that process and stopped the immune system from recognizing cancer cells and becoming activated. Thus cancer would spread throughout the body.

In the latest study, the researchers have found that an antibody blocks CD96 and enables more effective NK cells activation. In this process, the NK cells detect and destroy the cancer cells.

The study opened a new horizon in immunotherapy treatments to fight cancer. Immunotherapy is a fast-developing field. In case of treating cancer, it is causing a revolution. To treat cancer it uses patient’s own immune system. It is also used in other serious diseases too.

According to Smyth, the findings are very significant and exciting. “In treating some cancers, immunotherapy treatments are proving highly successful”, Smyth added. However, the researchers are focusing on developing new treatments which work on a different types of immune cells which are known as cytotoxic T cells.

Smyth pointed out that by contrast, they had shown that they could slow the spread of cancer by targeting Natural Killer cells. They think that this method will be just as important and effective in future as other immunotherapy treatments which are being used now.

It was a significant finding that the antibody was more effective in slowing the spread of the cancer cells. It was prolonging survival when it was used in combination with existing agents which targets and activates cytotoxic T cells.

The journal Cancer Discovery published the study.