Killer cells against the most aggressive lung cancer

A group of researchers from the Cima University of Navarra, belonging to the area of CIBER Cancer (CIBERONC)has developed a strategy that significantly reduces the most aggressive lung cancer through a new way of activating NK (natural killer) lymphocytes. This strategy has proven effective in animal models of small cell lung cancer.

According to reports from CIBER, one of the characteristics of this type of cancer is its immunosuppression, that is, the ability it has to disable the immune system so that it does not confront the tumor. “Our research has consisted of a strategy aimed at eliminating this immunosuppression and reactivate NK lymphocyte function. For this, animal models of small cell lung cancer and combined drug treatments have been used. Dasatinib and immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors PD-1 and CTLA4,” explains Alfonso Calvoresearcher of Cima Early Detection and New Therapeutic Targets Group for Lung Cancer University of Navarra and director of the study.

The work has shown that this novel combination produces a very significant decrease of the tumors. “In this context, we have confirmed that the antitumor effect depends on the reactivation of killer lymphocytes and the reduction of a population of immunosuppressive cells called regulatory T cells,” he says. Nerea Oteguifirst author of the publication.

Other conclusions of the study are that the therapy increases the levels of a factor responsible for the recruitment of active immune cells in the tumor, called CCL5. As pointed out Bald“specifically, patients who have high levels of CCL5 in their blood respond better to standard treatment (chemo-immunotherapy).”

The results of this research, integrated into the Cancer Center Clinic University of Navarra and published in the scientific journal Cancer Researchsuggest the importance of using strategies that promote the activation of killer lymphocytes in the most aggressive lung cancer. “In parallel, examining CCL5 in the blood could provide relevant information about whether patients will respond to therapy,” concludes the Cima researcher.

The work, carried out within the framework of the Cancer CIBER (CIBERONC), has had public funding from the Carlos III Health Institute and the European Union, as well as the support of the Spanish Association Against Cancer.