Researchers in France have made a groundbreaking discovery revealing that specific cells surrounding tumours influence the body’s immunity to cancer.
The study from Institut Pasteur, Paris, focused on specific cells (stromal cells) that play a critical role in cancer progression and the body's immune response.
The research team discovered that in mice with melanoma, pancreatic, or prostate cancer, some stromal cells surrounding solid tumours promote the formation of blood vessels that act as barriers to the body’s immune system, rendering it defenseless against the cancer cells.
The research, published in Nature Immunology, could now lead to improved treatments for solid tumours by specifically targeting these stromal cells, enhancing the effectiveness of cancer therapies.