Dividing Cancer Cells. Credit: University of Birmingham
When the immune system attacks cancer, the tumour modifies itself to escape the immune reaction. Researchers at LUMC published on this subject in Nature on 28 June.
The researchers discovered that as a result of the immune reaction new tumour cells are formed that have far fewer or even none of the DNA modifications that the immune system can recognise. This is how the tumour tries to escape the immune reaction. However, the immune system can learn to recognise new DNA modifications.
Other treatment methods
By treating cancer patients with a different form of immunotherapy, it should be possible to switch off the modified tumour cells as well, the researchers conclude. Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment whereby the patient's own immune system is activated to trace and destroy cancer cells.
More information: Els M. E. Verdegaal et al. Neoantigen landscape dynamics during human melanoma–T cell interactions, Nature (2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature18945
Journal information: Nature
Provided by Leiden University
