12:00 PM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Scientists from the University of Glasgow and the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in the United Kingdom have made a groundbreaking discovery in the understanding of bowel cancer. Their research has shed light on why patients’ immune systems ignore the disease, providing hope for new treatments.
The study, led by Dr. Seth Coffelt, has revealed how bowel cancer evades the immune system, rendering it unable to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Normally, immune cells act as security guards, protecting the gut from harmful bacteria and maintaining its health. However, when cells in the intestine become cancerous, they eliminate the communication channels between immune cells, preventing an orchestrated immune response.
According to Dr. Coffelt, cancer manipulates immune cells to avoid being recognized as a threat. This discovery, published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research, opens up possibilities for reversing or blocking this process. By doing so, the immune system could regain its ability to identify and halt the growth and multiplication of bowel cancer cells.
Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK, with approximately 16,800 deaths reported annually, averaging 46 deaths per day. In Scotland alone, around 4,000 patients are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.
The researchers believe that understanding how cancer deceives the immune system holds promise for the development of new therapies. By reactivating immune cells, these treatments could potentially overcome the immune system’s blindness to bowel cancer and improve patient outcomes.
This breakthrough in bowel cancer research brings hope to patients and medical professionals alike. With further exploration and development, these findings may pave the way for more effective treatments and improved survival rates for those affected by this devastating disease.
Sources:
– BBC News: “Bowel cancer breakthrough after immune system find” – URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-65960708
What potential therapies could be developed to reactivate immune cells and improve the recognition and control of bowel cancer cells
Scientists from the University of Glasgow and the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in the United Kingdom have made a groundbreaking discovery in the understanding of bowel cancer. Their research has shed light on why patients’ immune systems ignore the disease, providing hope for new treatments.
The study, led by Dr. Seth Coffelt, has revealed how bowel cancer evades the immune system, rendering it unable to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Immune cells in the gut normally act as security guards, protecting against harmful bacteria and maintaining gut health. However, when cells in the intestine become cancerous, they disrupt communication channels between immune cells, preventing an effective immune response.
Dr. Coffelt explains that cancer manipulates immune cells to avoid detection. This discovery, published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research, opens up possibilities for reversing or blocking this process. If successful, the immune system could regain its ability to identify and control the growth and spread of bowel cancer cells.
Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK, with approximately 16,800 deaths reported annually, averaging 46 deaths per day. In Scotland alone, around 4,000 patients are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.
The researchers believe that understanding how cancer deceives the immune system could lead to the development of new therapies. By reactivating immune cells, these treatments could potentially overcome the immune system’s inability to recognize bowel cancer and improve patient outcomes.
This breakthrough in bowel cancer research brings hope to patients and medical professionals. With further exploration and development, these findings may pave the way for more effective treatments and improved survival rates for those affected by this devastating disease.
This groundbreaking research shines a much-needed light on the intricate mechanisms of bowel cancer’s immune system evasion. These findings offer hope for future targeted treatments and improved outcomes for patients.
This article highlights the groundbreaking discovery made by scientists to unravel the secret behind bowel cancer’s ability to evade the immune system. A remarkable step forward in cancer research, their findings will undoubtedly pave the way for new and more effective treatments.