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Indian researchers find new way to boost immunity against cancer cells
This approach opens up new possibilities for developing vaccine candidates against a range of cancers.
PhD student TV Keerthana (right) with research supervisor N Jayaraman (left). / Image -NJ Group/IISc
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a new approach to enhance the production of antibodies against cancer cells.
The team’s findings could open up new possibilities for developing vaccine candidates against a range of cancers, a statement by the institute said.
PhD student TV Keerthana and her research supervisor N Jayaraman developed a synthetic compound that could attach to a protein in the blood and travel to the lymph node, where it boosts the production of antibodies against cancer cells.
As cancer cells have the ability to suppress or inhibit the production of antibodies that would normally target and eliminate them, scientists must modify or create a mimic of an antigen present on the surface of cancer cells to stimulate or activate antibody production.
In recent years, scientists have explored the use of carbohydrates found on the surfaces of cancer cells to create these antigens, which have to be transferred into the body using an artificial protein or virus particle as the carrier.
But these carriers can be bulky, lead to side-effects, and sometimes reduce antibody production against cancer cells. The IISc researchers suggest that their “hitchhiking” approach, that exploits the carrying ability of a natural protein called serum albumin, found abundantly in blood, can be more effective than the carbohydrate-based antigens used currently.
During their trials, they discovered that the antigen predominantly accumulated in the lymph nodes, where crucial cellular processes related to the body's immune response occur. These processes include the activation of killer T cells and the production of antibodies.
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