This Science News Wire page contains a press release issued by an organization and is provided to you "as is" with little or no review from Science X staff.

Identifying genes to prolong an anti-tumor immune response

July 3rd, 2024

In a study published in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers set out to identify genes that are commonly expressed in CD8⁺ T cells, killer immune cells that can drive anti-tumor immunity, across many types of human cancers. Their goal was to uncover new therapeutic targets, which could inform novel treatment strategies that could benefit many patients. To do this, they developed a novel mathematical method that can be applied to data from many types of cancers.

The presence of CD8⁺ T cells is essential for attacking and destroying cancer cells. By prolonging the survival of these cells, they can work longer to destroy cancer cells.

The researchers created and implemented a novel mathematical method that can identify patterns in data and be applied to analyze diverse datasets across multiple human cancers to reveal shared or unique gene programs. They then applied this formula to study 33,161 CD8⁺ T cells from 132 patients with seven different types of cancer.

They thus identified 72 genes that were commonly expressed in chronically activated CD8⁺ T cells across these cancers. They found that one of these genes, CXCR6, can support the survival of CD8⁺ T cells by promoting CD28 signaling.

Because the mathematical method they developed can be applied to analyze diverse datasets across multiple human cancers to uncover shared or unique gene programs, it can identify common, as well as unique, targets for cancer therapeutics, Their findings can help inform targets for broadly active cancer therapies,

Using the same method, the researchers plan to identify unique targets for specific cancer types and continue to test additional genes within their 72 "pan-cancer" candidates for therapeutic translation and application.

More information:
Katherine Tooley et al, Pan-cancer mapping of single CD8+ T cell profiles reveals a TCF1:CXCR6 axis regulating CD28 co-stimulation and anti-tumor immunity, Cell Reports Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101640

Provided by Mass General Brigham

Citation: Identifying genes to prolong an anti-tumor immune response (2024, July 3) retrieved 25 November 2024 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/481439301/identifying-genes-to-prolong-an-anti-tumor-immune-response.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.