Scientists uncover 'hidden switch' that helps cancer cells hide from the immune system
Researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that helps cancer cells evade detection by the body's immune system. The finding could pave the way for the development of more effective cancer immunotherapies.
A team of researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has identified a previously unknown mechanism that helps cancer cells evade detection by the immune system. The study, published in Science Immunology, reveals that the RNA helicase DDX6 acts as a "hidden switch" that prevents the immune system from recognizing cancer cells.
By targeting DDX6, scientists could potentially make tumors more visible to the immune system, improving existing or new immunotherapies. The discovery challenges the previous understanding that RNA editing generally weakens the immune-triggering signals of cancer cells, showing instead that certain RNA editing events can strengthen these signals, enhancing their ability to activate the body's natural immune defenses.
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