Targeted nanoparticles reduce tumor scarring and enable immunotherapy response in mice
Many liver and lung cancers arise in tissue that's already been scarred by chronic disease, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or long-term lung damage. That scarring creates an environment that suppresses nearby immune cells, so by the time a tumor takes hold, it's often already shielded from the immune system and immunotherapy.
Liver and lung cancers often develop in tissue already scarred by chronic diseases like hepatitis or lung damage. This scarring creates an environment that suppresses immune cells, making tumors immune to immunotherapy. Scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have developed a novel method to break down this barrier.
They engineered nanoparticles—tiny particles roughly 1,000 times smaller than a human hair—to selectively eliminate a specific type of immune cell that drives fibrosis. By targeting these immune cells, the approach could make immunotherapy more effective for patients with minimal side effects. The findings, published in Science, could potentially lead to new treatments for immunotherapy-resistant tumors and other fibrotic and inflammatory diseases.
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