Antibodies Gain the Upper Hand Against Sly Tumors

Tumors use ingenious approaches to stay just out of reach of immune cells on patrol and avoid detection. For instance, cancer cells at the periphery of the tumor have been shown to secrete a cocktail of chemicals that creates an impenetrable barrier to immune cells. By suppressing the immune system, these tumor factors interfere with antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and block the production of tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Beyond the reach of the immune patrol, tumor cells continue to multiply uncontrollably.

“Clinical trials with anti-OX40 antibodies have shown that the body can tolerate these drugs but unfortunately have also shown disappointing clinical responses.”

Scientists have developed several therapeutic countermeasures to overcome this tumor-induced immune suppression-treatments that, at least in theory, bear tremendous potential. Unfortunately, when it comes to real-world clinical outcomes, many of these immunotherapies have missed the mark. For instance, some studies show that more than half of patients fail to respond to checkpoint blockade therapy as a means of overriding tumors’ immune suppression.

Now, cancer immunologists from the University of Southampton have added a…