Research paves way for new forms of immunotherapy to treat people with Merkel cell cancer

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Cancer News

Immune System,Skin,Skin Cancer

Scientists behind a new type of immunotherapy are demonstrating significant effects in laboratory experiments in cell samples from patients with the aggressive form of skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma.

DTU Jul 1 2024

The researchers have identified the elements in Merkel cell polyomavirus, known as epitopes, that can be recognized by the immune system's T cells. Merkel cell polyomavirus is directly implicated in the development of Merkel cell cancer. Normally, the immune system is able to recognize and defeat these epitopes, but in elderly and immunocompromised patients in particular, this response is impaired.

Boosting the body's immune system In the laboratory experiments, the researchers take T cells from patients and mix them with a nanostructure that they have designed to stimulate the immune system's T cells against the very elements of the Merkel cell polyomavirus that are involved in cancer formation. In this way, the researchers can create a large number of the T cells that are capable of killing cancer cells.

 

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