Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: After discovering how the immune system of the body targets cancer-ravaged cells, scientists are on the approach of a significant breakthrough in the fight against the disease.
According to a recent study, human immune system’s natural killer cells, which guard against infections and illness, have an innate ability to identify and target a protein that promotes the formation of cancer.
The experts say that by hijacking this protein, known as XPO1, they may be able to activate more killer cells to destroy the disease. Scientists from the University of Southampton, working with experts worldwide, led the study and now believe it could offer new and less invasive forms of treatments.
The findings have been published in the Science Advances journal. Lead author Professor of Hepatology Salim Khakoo, from Southampton, said it was previously believed that killer cells attack cancer cells in a random manner.
He added, “Our findings actually show how our body’s immune system recognises and attacks these cancer cells. Killer cells are an emerging form of immunotherapy that shows huge promise.
“They don’t attack healthy tissue in the way chemotherapy and other immunotherapies do, so are safer and have less side-effects than traditional forms of cancer treatment.”
The XPO1 protein examined by the scientists is essential for normal cell function. However, in many cancers, it becomes overactive and allows malignant cells to multiply unchecked.
The Southampton scientists found that a peptide – short chains of amino acids – derived from the XPO1 protein attracted the natural killer cells. This, they say, triggers the body’s immune response against the cancerous cells.
Prof Khakoo added, “Patients with cancer who had both active killer cells and high levels of XPO1 had significantly better survival rates. This holds true for a range of cancers including those with higher rates of death such as liver cancer, which has an average survival rate of only 18 months.
