Israeli Institute Finds New Effective Cancer Treatment Using Immune Cells

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot have made a groundbreaking discovery in the battle against cancer. They have developed a new kind of immunotherapy based on intercommunication among different immune cells, which could revolutionize the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

The immune system’s fighters, known as T cells, often lose their ability to kill and become exhausted in the battle against cancer. Additionally, the intelligence-providing dendritic cells (DCs) are scarce. However, the researchers have found a way to connect T cells to dendritic cells using a newly developed antibody, creating a powerful immune response to cancerous growths.

Immunotherapy has long held promise in harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, and this new discovery brings that promise closer to reality. The effectiveness of the new treatment was tested in several mouse models of cancer, including aggressive breast, lung, and skin cancers. The results were promising, with the new antibody significantly reducing the growth rate of the skin and lung cancers.

However, breast tumors that did not respond to the existing treatment also failed to respond to the new antibody, likely due to the small number of active dendritic cells around these tumors. To address this, the researchers combined their new antibody with an existing treatment that enhances the activity of dendritic cells around the growth. This combined treatment was found to be more effective than the existing treatments alone.

This breakthrough has immense potential for the future of cancer treatment and could lead to innovative therapies for a range of diseases. The researchers at the Weizmann Institute have applied for a patent and are seeking commercialization, signaling the significant impact this discovery could have on the field of cancer treatment.