Several researchers have high hopers for using cancer immunotherapy as a way to help patients suffering from cancer. At the National
Cancer Institute, Nicholas Restifo, M.D. is at the head of a project that
combats the use of T-cells to help reduce tumors and put a halt on cancerous
cells. The main focus is to look into the genes that are found in cancer cells
that are the usually the most aggressive ones causing the cancer. By the
researchers figuring this information out they can decide which genes are most
crucial to be eliminated by the T-cells. The technology CRISPR was used on
tumors found in melanoma cells to halt the replication of the genes in the
cancer cells so they could modify the genes to react to T-cells in order to
destroy the tumor. The group were able to locate nearly 100 possible genes that
could be playing a role in T-cells supressing tumors. They identified a gene,
APLNR, which is a protein known as the apelin receptor and has a pro con
ability. It can be a factor at times that develops certain cancers but it was
also one of the first genes to be found that responds to the T-cells. With the continuation
of this study the researchers hope to have an end goal of finding why some
patients do not respond as successfully to immunotherapy
as others and how
they can adjust their methods to work for those patients as well.
In regards to the APLNR gene, maybe because everyone's immune system is different is why they react distinctively to the gene. Really neat.
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