Turning Off Breast Cancer is Good
Have we turned the corner with Immunotherapy research
While immunotherapies have shown incredible potential, they haven't quite cracked the code for all cancers. Over 80% of advanced breast cancers, for example, remain stubborn fighters. But fear not, because researchers from Stanford and the Arc Institute have stumbled upon a game-changer!
Meet ENPP1, a protein acting like a secret on/off switch for both immunotherapy resistance and the dreaded spread of cancer (metastasis). This study, published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that high ENPP1 levels in patients translate to lower immunotherapy response and a higher chance of metastases. The good news? This discovery paves the way for:
Smarter treatment choices: Doctors can now use ENPP1 levels to identify patients who would benefit most from existing immunotherapies. No more trial and error, just targeted precision!
Boosting immunotherapy: New drugs or tweaks to existing ones could focus on disabling ENPP1, turning that off switch into a powerful "on" for the immune system. Several promising ENPP1 inhibitors are already in the pipeline, waiting to join the fight!
Hotter tumors, happier futures: By learning how ENPP1 keeps tumors "cold" (T cell-free), researchers can develop strategies to turn up the heat and invite the immune system in for a good ol' tumor-busting party.
"Our study should offer hope for everyone," says Lingyin Li, the lead researcher and an unstoppable optimist. And with good reason! This breakthrough sheds light on not just breast cancer, but also other "cold" tumors like lung and pancreatic cancers.
Cancer has been a long-time scourge, with so many different types and with the fragility and delicate body of the human system. So, even the smallest of advances are commendable. But this seems quite promising and that’s a good thing.
By the way, here are a bunch of headlines that I decided against for this article:
Busting up Breast Cancer
This turn off is a turn on.
Heat means Cancer Hope is on the horizon!