Study reveals how cancer evades immunity with dense sugar shield
A new study finds some cancer cells form a sugary barrier, making them harder for the immune system to detect, and points to new treatment possibilities.
Key Takeaways
AIResearchers from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute, in collaboration with scientific institutions in North America, have uncovered a new mechanism cancer uses to hide within the body.
A recent study showed that certain cancer cells build a dense layer of sugar molecules on their surface, known as the glycocalyx, making it more difficult for the immune system to recognize and destroy them.
The study, published last month in Science Daily, found that high glucose levels in the tumor environment increase the thickness of this sugary coating. It also revealed that the protein HSF1 enhances the ability of cancer cells to evade immune detection.
The researchers noted that targeting HSF1 could, in the future, help reduce the thickness of the sugar layer, making cancer cells more visible to the immune system and easier to target.
These findings are significant given the rising rates of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, highlighting a possible link between high glucose and the ability of some tumors to strengthen their defenses against the immune system.
The research paves the way for future studies on removing the "sugar shield" to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies.