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12 Sep 2019

Researchers identify cancer killing capability of lesser-known immune cells

Linked with obesity, esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in the Western world. Image: Shutterstock. Finding new ways to reverse the inhibition of ‘MAIT’ immune cells could transform the prognosis of esophageal cancer — by Trinity College Dublin Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified, for the first time in esophageal cancer, the cancer killing capability of a lesser-known type of immune cell, presenting a new potential therapeutic target. Their research is published in Frontiers in Immunology. Esophageal cancer is a very aggressive type of cancer with poor prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate is typically less than 15%. Linked with obesity, esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in the Western world and incidence is due to double in Ireland within the next few decades. Current treatment strategies work well but only for a minority (approx. 25%) of patients so new treatment options are urgently needed. New treatment strategies targeting the immune system have had revolutionary effects in other cancer types, but the latest clinical trials show that, disappointingly, immunotherapy offers no real benefit for the majority of patients with oesophageal cancer. Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Display Diminished Effector Capacity in Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma► Read original […]