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UCLA Study Reveals Common Antidepressants May Boost Immune System’s Ability to Combat Cancer
- A UCLA study reveals that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly used as antidepressants can enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer by boosting T cell activity and suppressing tumor growth.
- SSRIs, such as Prozac and Celexa, were found to amplify the efficacy of killer T cells in various cancer types through enhanced serotonin signaling, opening a new avenue for cancer treatment by repurposing existing drugs.
- Elevating serotonin signaling via SSRIs counteracts immunosuppressive factors in tumors, empowering T cells to maintain their cytotoxic functions more aggressively against cancer cells.
- The study demonstrated that SSRIs significantly reduced tumor size in multiple murine and human tumor models, showing broad applicability and robust anticancer effects.
- Combining SSRIs with immune checkpoint blockade therapy using anti-PD-1 antibodies in preclinical models resulted in notable tumor shrinkage and potential complete remission, indicating a synergistic effect.
- Repurposing SSRIs for cancer treatment could have profound implications given their widespread use, offering a cost-effective and logistically attractive approach with transformative potential for patient care.
- SSRIs inhibit SERT, increasing serotonin availability in the tumor microenvironment, which reactivates exhausted T cells, enhancing their capacity to eradicate tumor cells.
- The study's findings have been submitted for patent protection, highlighting the translational potential of repurposing SSRIs for cancer therapy and reflecting a convergence of disciplines in immunology, pharmacology, and oncology.
- Future research will focus on real-world data analyses to determine the impact of combining SSRIs with immune checkpoint inhibitors on cancer survival rates, with controlled clinical trials in the pipeline to validate these findings.
- By integrating SSRIs into existing immunotherapies, this research aims to enhance cancer immunotherapy outcomes, potentially providing more effective and accessible treatments in the future.
- The study sheds light on repurposing antidepressants like SSRIs for cancer treatment, showcasing the unexpected therapeutic potential of existing drugs and their role in advancing cancer immunotherapy.
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