Giving cancer patients aspirin at the same time as immunotherapy could dramatically boost the effectiveness of the treatment, according to new research published in the journal Cell today (Thursday).
Francis Crick Institute researchers, funded by Cancer Research UK, have shown that skin, breast and bowel cancer cells often produce large amounts of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This molecule dampens down the immune system’s normal response to attack faulty cells, which helps cancer to hide. It is a trick that allows the tumour to thrive and may explain why some immunotherapy treatments have not been as effective as hoped.
Aspirin is part of a group of molecules called COX inhibitors, which stop the production of PGE2 and help reawaken the immune system. Combining immunotherapy with aspirin or other COX inhibitors substantially slowed bowel and melanoma skin cancer growth in mice, compared to immunotherapy alone*.
Study author Professor Caetano Reis e Sousa, senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute, said: “We’ve added to the growing evidence that some cancers produce PGE2 as a way of escaping the immune system. If you can take away cancer cells’ ability to make PGE2 you effectively lift this protective barrier and unleash the full power of the immune system.
“Giving patients COX inhibitors like aspirin at the same time as immunotherapy could potentially make a huge difference to the benefit they get from treatment. It’s still early work but this could help make cancer immunotherapy even more effective, delivering life-changing results for patients.”
Read more: Aspirin could hold the key to supercharged cancer immunotherapy
The Latest on: Cancer immunotherapy
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Cancer immunotherapy” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Cancer immunotherapy
- Dual immunotherapy shows promise to treat recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal canceron June 7, 2023 at 11:18 am
A team led by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) with members from Singapore General Hospital, A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), ...
- Value of chemotherapy post immunotherapy in stage IV non-small cell lung canceron June 7, 2023 at 10:10 am
BUFFALO, NY- June 7, 2023 – A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on May 26, 2023, entitled, “Value of chemotherapy post immunotherapy in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer ...
- New Israeli technology improves prediction of patient response to immunotherapyon June 7, 2023 at 3:03 am
Ben-Gurion University researchers develop innovative biosensor, team up with Israeli biotech company OncoHost in bid for FDA approval ...
- Some patients with rectal cancer, lymphoma may safely skip radiation therapyon June 7, 2023 at 3:00 am
Radiation therapy might not be necessary in treating some forms of rectal cancer and lymphoma, sparing patients from the toxic treatment, a pair of new clinical trials shows.
- Trial shows immunotherapy drug Opdivo is safe, effective against Hodgkin lymphomaon June 7, 2023 at 2:00 am
The widely used immunotherapy drug nivolumab (Opdivo) is safer and more effective in treating adults and children with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma than the targeted therapy now used as standard care is, ...
- Immunotherapy Benefit for Advanced Lung Cancer Continues Beyond 2 Yearson June 6, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival benefits don’t extend with further immunotherapy treatment. Limiting treatment can also improve quality of life.
- Certain NSCLC Patients May Be Able to Stop Immunotherapy at 2 Yearson June 6, 2023 at 10:51 am
Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are progression-free may discontinue treatment with frontline immunotherapy after 2 years without compromising overall survival (OS), a ...
- New study finds continuing immunotherapy once cancer progresses doesn't work and could cause harmon June 6, 2023 at 8:10 am
CONTACT-03 trial finds increased toxicity without clinical benefit in patients with advanced kidney cancer who received additional checkpoint ...
- Targeting the immunotherapy potential of cytokines IL-12 and IL-18 with new advancements in protein engineeringon June 6, 2023 at 6:27 am
Dr Raymond Winquist, Oncology Fellow at Alkermes, covers the longstanding research challenges associated with cytokines: IL-12 and IL-18.
- Cancer vaccines poised to unlock 'new treatment paradigm' with Merck/Moderna dataon June 5, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Adding an experimental mRNA-based vaccine from Moderna Inc and Merck & Co reduced the risk that the most deadly skin cancer would spread by 65% over treatment with an immunotherapy alone in a ...
via Bing News