The effectiveness of chemotherapy against “zombie” cells in tumors

effectiveness of chemotherapy becomes more decisive against tumors when eliminate senescent cells. This conclusion was reached by studies conducted by the Institute of Biomedical Research (St.IRB Barcelona), remembering that, eliminating PD-L2 proteinthese cells “become more vulnerable by losing the stimulus that stimulates them.” the tumor continues to grow and allowing the immune system eliminates them. The study was successful in three animal models with different tumors, and the results have the researchers “optimistic that clinical trials focusing on the safety of the treatment will soon take place.”

One of the main architects who made this discovery possible is Jose Alberto Lopez postdoctoral researcher at IRB Barcelona, ​​who describes in Medical letter process of creating this type of senescent cells: “They appear in the body due to DNA damage and may occur due to excessive cell replication. These cells remain alive, but cannot perform their functions properly in tissues, so they must be eliminated by the immune system. Near zombie cellsthey’re not dead, but they no longer act like normal cells.”

This type of cell contains a protein in its membrane that inhibits lymphocytes, so Lopez decided to destroy them: “Destroying PD-L2 makes them more vulnerable. In two ways, such as genetic modification and with antibody This has been achieved block protein and managed to deactivate its function. This makes chemotherapy more effective after killing these senescent cells.”

The researcher recalls that aging reaches even “suppress the immune system by other mechanisms, changing the composition of the immune system that exists within the tumor.” According to Lopez, this situation results in “more suppressive immune cells instead of immune cells that actively fight the tumor“

PD-L2 protein present in human tumor cells.

Once the barrier created by senescent cells disappears, the researcher emphasizes that two important achievements when studying the mice used in the study: “The immune system can destroy them, in addition to creating balance of active and inactive immune cellswhich makes the tumor more vulnerable to the action of the immune system.”

In addition to analyzing the evolution of these cells in cell lines, the specialist emphasizes that it was carried out on three animal models with different tumors, such as “melanoma, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer.” Thanks to the Institute of Oncology Val d’Hebron (VHIO), Lopez emphasizes that “samples were taken from three patients with different tumors. The PD-L2 protein appears in human tumor cells, so it is possible that this mechanism also works in humans. “This needs to be demonstrated in clinical trials.”