Latest news with #Tcells
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
A Monkey Herpesvirus Could Hold Key to New Cancer Treatment
A cousin of herpes might just help us fight cancer. Scientists have engineered a protein derived from a herpesvirus in monkeys that could enhance the immune system's potency against cancer. Researchers at the University of Michigan detailed their work on the protein in a paper published last month. In experiments with mice, the protein prolonged the life of cancer-fighting T cells, leading to reduced tumor growth. The findings point to a novel way that we can further strengthen immune-related cancer treatments, the researchers say. The protein comes from herpesvirus saimiri, named after the squirrel monkeys (all members of the genus Saimiri) that the virus primarily infects. The researchers had identified the virus as carrying proteins that activate certain pathways in T cells—the immune system's frontline soldiers against infections and cancers—that extended their survivability. They ultimately engineered a modified version of one particular protein from the virus, called tyrosine kinase interacting protein (TIP). They hoped their version of TIP could bind to a protein in T cells that would stimulate the production of other proteins called STAT that could then boost the T cells' longevity and cancer-killing potential. As expected, the protein increased levels of STAT (specifically the protein STAT5) in T cells in a Petri dish. They then tested the protein on mice with melanoma and lymphoma. The T cells of treated mice lived longer and killed tumor cells more effectively, resulting in reduced cancer growth, the researchers found. 'Our findings demonstrate that signaling pathways can be rewired in T cells to sustain their function in solid tumors,' the researchers wrote in the paper, published in Science Immunology. In recent years, scientists have developed a class of treatments that ramp up the immune system's natural ability to recognize and attack cancers, which is broadly known as immunotherapy. So the U-M scientists believe that their protein could be used in combination with existing immunotherapies to keep T cells in tip-top cancer-bashing shape. More broadly, they believe that other organisms or their genes can be tweaked to modify our immune cells to make them better at fighting cancers. The team's protein is still experimental, so it will take plenty more research to know whether it can be safely and effectively used in people. But it may not take too long for other herpesviruses to contribute to cancer treatment. Several research teams have developed modified versions of the herpes simplex 1 virus (the primary cause of cold sores) to directly eradicate tumors. Some of these treatments have already begun to be tested in people, and have shown promise in early clinical trials so far.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
EMA Greenlights Aucatzyl for Adult ALL
At its May 2025 meeting, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) gave a conditional marketing authorization in the European Union for obecabtagene autoleucel (Aucatzyl) to treat adults from 26 years of age with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B ALL). A conditional marketing authorization is granted to a medicinal product that fulfils an unmet medical need when the benefit to public health of immediate availability outweighs the risk inherent in the fact that additional data are still required. B ALL is a fast-growing and life-threatening cancer. Despite multiple available therapeutic options, it is associated with significant mortality and a poor survival rate. Aucatzyl, whose active substance is obecabtagene autoleucel, is an antineoplastic cell and gene therapy. The autologous immunotherapy consists of the patient's own T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor that recognizes and binds to CD19 on target cells. This results in activation of the immunological effect of the T-cell releasing inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, killing CD19-expressing cells. The CHMP said that the benefits of obecabtagene autoleucel were its ability to induce remission with a relevant duration in adults with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Treatment Achieved Durable Response The positive decision by the CHMP was based on the results of the FELIX study, a single-arm, open-label phase 1b-2 multicenter study of obecabtagene autoleucel in adults aged 18 years and over with relapsed or refractory B ALL. In the study, around 64% of patients had a durable response — a period without disease signs or symptoms after treatment — with a median duration of 14 months. Around 49% showed a complete response, meaning the signs of cancer disappeared. Aucatzyl will be available as a 410 x 106 cells dispersion for infusion. The drug's most common side effects include cytokine release syndrome, infections, musculoskeletal pain, pyrexia, pain, nausea, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, and hemorrhage. To confirm the safety and efficacy of Aucatzyl, the manufacturer has been requested to submit long-term follow-up results of the FELIX study and to conduct a non-interventional study based on a patient registry. In the meantime, in its overall assessment of the available data, the Committee for Advanced Therapies — the EMA's expert committee for cell- and gene-based medicines — found that the benefits of Aucatzyl outweighed the possible risks in patients with ALL, and thus the marketing authorization was granted.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Drug taken by 8 million people has surprising side effect
A study found that SSRIs, a widely used type of antidepressant, could aid the immune system in fighting cancer and shrinking tumours. SSRIs increase serotonin levels, which not only improves mood but also enhances the cancer-fighting abilities of T cells. In mouse and human tumour models, SSRIs reduced tumour size by more than half and improved the efficiency of killer T cells. Combining SSRIs with existing cancer therapies further reduced tumour size in mice. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in human cancer patients taking SSRIs, researchers say.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millions taking one of UK's most common medications could be saved from cancer, study suggests
Taking antidepressants could help the body fight off cancer, a study has suggested. Experts found selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), one of the most common types of the drug, were found to have significantly improved the ability of T cells to fight cancer and suppress tumour growth. T cells are a type of white blood cell that play a major role in helping the immune system identify and kill infections and cancer cells. 'It turns out SSRIs don't just make our brains happier, they also make our T cells happier—even while they're fighting tumours,' said Dr Lili Yang, senior author of the new study at University of California. 'These drugs have been widely and safely used to treat depression for decades, so repurposing them for cancer would be a lot easier than developing an entirely new therapy,' she added. Antidepressants are typically taken for mood disorders as the drug increase levels of serotonin—the brain's 'happiness hormone'—by blocking the activity of a protein called serotonin transporter, or SERT. But the study sought to explore if this process could also influence other parts of the body including digestion, metabolism and immune activity. The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Cell noticed that immune cells isolated from tumours had higher levels of serotonin-regulating molecules. Dr Bo Li, another author of the study explained: 'SERT has one job—to transport serotonin. 'SERT made for an especially attractive target because the drugs that act on it—SSRIs—are widely used with minimal side effects.' The researchers tested SSRIs in mouse and human tumour models representing melanoma, breast, prostate, colon and bladder cancer. In lab tests on tumours the researchers found SSRI treatment reduced average tumour size by over 50 per cent and made the cancer-fighting T cells more effective at killing cancer. 'SSRIs made the killer T cells happier in the otherwise oppressive tumour environment by increasing their access to serotonin signals, reinvigorating them to fight and kill cancer cells,' said Dr Yang. The researchers also found SSRIs boosted the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies. They tested a combination of an SSRI and a treatment called anti-PD-1 antibody in mice with cancer. This antibody therapy works by blocking immune checkpoint molecules that normally suppress immune cell activity, therefore allowing T cells to attack tumours more effectively. By adding SSRIs to this researchers significantly reduced tumour size in all treated mice and even achieved complete remission in some cases. People with depression are thought to have low levels of serotonin, though there is scientific debate over this, and SSRIs combat this by boosting these levels. While the study suggested SSRIs could one day be used to help treat cancer others have linked their long term usage to health problems. Some experts suspect that the drugs could be causing too much serotonin to be released, with negative consequences for people's health. Previous studies have linked their use to health issues including heart problems in young people alongside long-term and even permanent sexual dysfunction. Health service figures show antidepressants are one of the most commonly taken medications in the UK. Official data suggests as 8.7 million people in England were prescribed the medication—about 15 per cent of the total population. In the US an estimated one in eight people are currently taking an antidepressant, according to the Centers for Disease Control. More than 400,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
