Perhaps researchers from Cambridge were able to discover a new pancreatic cancer treatment method that allows the immune the body system itself to destroy cancer cells.
A photo from open sources
Left: Pancreatic cancer cells (marked in green). color)
Right: after 6 days of treatment (cancer cells destroyed)
The method uses a drug that breaks down the protective barrier, surrounding cancerous tumors, allowing T cells to pass it and attack diseased cells. The drug is used in combination with antibodies that block the second line of defense, which increases effectiveness of T cell attacks.
Pancreatic cancer is the eighth most common cause of cancer mortality in the world. It hits like men both women and more common in people over the age of 60 years.
Since it has very few symptoms in the early stages, cancer pancreas, as a rule, is diagnosed already in developed stages, and the prognosis in this case is disappointing. At all stages taken together, the survival rate during the year is less than 20%, and five years – less than 4%, respectively. Tumor removal is the most effective treatment, but it is suitable only for one of five patients.
Immunotherapy – stimulation of the body’s immune system for attacks of diseased cells – is a promising therapy for several forms of tumors, but in patients with pancreatic cancer the gland had no reaction to this approach – perhaps because this a form of cancer creates a protective barrier around itself.
The researchers used the drug AMD3100, also known like Plerixafor, which blocks CXCR4 – T cell receptor for CXCL12 protein, which envelops cancer cells, creating biological shield for the virus. When used in combination with activation immunotherapeutic anti-PD-L1 antibody T cells, the number of cancer cells and tumor volume significantly decreased. After combined treatment for one week, the residual tumor consisted only of precancerous and inflammatory cells.
Oncology
