| The role of senescent tumor cells in the process of suppressing tumor immunity in colon cancer (provided by Professor Tae-Joon Park of Ajou University Medical School) © News 1 |
Domestic medical staff have discovered the existence of a chemical barrier that protects cancer cells from attack by immune cells.
It is expected to be a clue to complement the low reactivity of anticancer drugs that attack cancer cells with immune cells.
The research team of Korea Research Foundation, Professor Taejun Park, Janghee Kim, and Yongwon Choi of Ajou University Medical School, found that senescent tumor cells present in colon cancer interfere with the penetration of immune cells into the tumor and weaken the activity of immune cells, creating a favorable environment for the progression of colon cancer. It was revealed on the 7th.
The research team confirmed the presence of senescent tumor cells in colon cancer tissue that was surgically resected.
Furthermore, it was observed that the invasion of immune cells (cytotoxic T cells) attacking cancer cells was slowed in tissues with more senescent tumor cells.
To determine the cause, the research team investigated secretions found on the surface of senescent tumor cells using genetic analysis and immunohistochemical staining, and identified two types of cytokines that cause immune cell function decline.
CXCL12, which is a kind of chemokine, involved in development, immune response, inflammatory response, tumor growth and metastasis, inhibited the penetration of cytotoxic T cells into the tumor.
In addition, it was demonstrated that CSF1 promotes the differentiation of macrophages that induce immunosuppression, resulting in a decrease in the function of cytotoxic T cells.
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| From left, Professor Taejun Park, Professor Janghee Kim, and Professor Yongwon Choi © News1 |
In fact, inhibition of the chemokine CXCL12 alone in the colon cancer mouse model in which senescent tumor cells were present increased the penetration of cytotoxic T cells into the tumor and markedly suppressed the tumor.
In addition, when suppressing the secretion of both cytokines at the same time, it was observed that the size of the tumor decreased significantly in the colon cancer mouse model that did not respond to the immuno-anticancer drug.
As a result, it confirmed the possibility of improving the reactivity of immune anticancer drugs through the control of senescent tumor cells.
This study is expected to be the beginning of a new treatment strategy that targets senescent tumor cells or aging-related secretions for the treatment of colorectal cancer with low immune anticancer drug responsiveness.
Meanwhile, the results of this research were published in the international journal’Advanced Science’ on January 4th.
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