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Discovery of New Mechanism That Protects Persister Tumor Cells from Immune Attack
- Researchers led by Dr. Manuel Serrano from IRB Barcelona have identified how persister cells block genes associated with inflammation utilizing an epigenetic mechanism that prevent the immune system from recognizing and attacking them, unlike cells in a state of senescence.
- Persister cells temporarily halt their growth, later reactivating and leading to cancer relapse after treatments have completed.
- This study illuminates the mechanisms behind how persister cells evade the immune system and resist traditional therapies, suggesting new pathways for developing more effective treatments.
- The researchers used selective inhibitors to test the hypothesis that reversing the epigenetic block could compromise the viability of persister cells.
- The study was conducted in partnership with several esteemed institutions, including Rovira i Virgili University and the Queen Mary University of London.
- Inhibiting the silencing mechanism not only unlocked previously untapped inflammatory pathways but also significantly weakened the resilience of persister cells.
- This discovery opens new doors for designing targeted therapies that could transform the approach to cancer treatment.
- If new drugs can effectively target persister cells, patients with advanced cancers may experience improved prognoses and reduced chances of relapse.
- The potential implications for clinical practice become increasingly apparent as the research evolves.
- The ongoing fight against cancer necessitates continual exploration and understanding of cellular behavior in response to treatment.
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