Cancer's malignant remote control: How tumors reprogram liver fat metabolism to disarm immune cells
In their quest to understand how cancers take root, grow and spread, scientists have for the past half-century explored the genetic aberrations and microenvironmental peculiarities of tumors and their constituent cells. Such studies continue to yield discoveries that are fueling a revolution in cancer therapy. Meanwhile, new technologies have in recent years enabled a more granular examination of…
Cancer researchers have discovered a new way in which tumors can evade the immune system. Scientists at Ludwig Princeton and Princeton University found that malignant tumors release tiny particles into the bloodstream that reprogram the metabolism of fat in the liver. This reprogramming weakens the function of CD8+ T cells, which are the primary defenders of the immune system against tumor cells.
The study, published in Cell Metabolism, suggests that targeting a protein called metadherin (MTDH) could be a new approach to cancer therapy. This discovery reveals how tumors can act as a systemic disease, influencing distant organs and physiological processes to support their growth and survival.
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