Newly Discovered Mechanism Could Significantly Improve Cancer Immunotherapies

A study revealed that tumors block immune responses by using prostaglandin E2, providing new insights for enhancing cancer immunotherapies.
Tumors actively inhibit the development of immune responses by cytotoxic T cells, crucial for fighting cancer. For the first time, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) Hospital have discovered the precise mechanisms behind this. Published in the journal Nature, their study offers insights for novel cancer immunotherapies and could enhance the efficacy of current treatments. A follow-up study, also published in Nature, corroborates these findings.

In cancer, tumors often impair the body’s immune response. For example, they can prevent immune cells from perceiving cancer cells as a threat or render them inactive. Immunotherapies aim to overcome these mechanisms and stimulate the immune system, in particular the T cells. However, such therapies do not work for a large number of cancer patients. Researchers around the world are looking for the causes and new counter-strategies.