Blocking Tumor Signals May Improve Anti-Tumor Response

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 09 Dec 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Blocking tumor driven signaling immune cells may improve a patient's immune response to cancer, according to a study conducted by Matthew Farren, in the laboratory of Kelvin Lee, MD, Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). The research will be presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, December 6-9, San Francisco, CA.

Patients with advanced cancers often have a suppressed immune system. One hallmark of tumor driven immune suppression is a decrease in the number of dendritic cells (DC) and an accumulation of immature myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Impairment of DC is controlled by several factors that activate an intracellular signaling molecule known as Stat3. This study elucidates the mechanisms by which Stat3 signaling inhibits dendritic cell development.

Researchers analyzed the pathways that prevent or down regulate the expression of an enzyme, protein kinase C beta II, which is essential for dendritic cell development. The signaling molecule Stat3 appears to be responsible for the down regulation.

"These findings suggest that blockage of tumor driven signaling offers an opportunity to improve patients' response to therapy," said Farren. "Dendritic cells are an essential component of the immune microenvironment which supports cancer cell survival," added Dr. Lee. "The ability to characterize specific interactions between tumor and immune cells that lead to tumor recognition and tumor rejection will provide new opportunities for clinical interventions."

Roswell Park Cancer Institute founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center. The Institute was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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