Clinical trial registries and publications

Penn State Researchers Enhance NK Cells to Target Solid Tumors; Science Study Reveals Dendritic Cell Transformation

Oct 27, 2024, 05:34 AM

Researchers from Penn State Hershey have developed a method to enhance immune cells' ability to target solid tumors. By creating a light-activated switch that controls the protein septin-7, the team incorporated this innovation into natural killer (NK) cells, allowing them to penetrate and kill tumor cells grown in laboratory settings. Additionally, a study published in Science reveals that cancer cells can be reprogrammed in vivo into dendritic cells, which can activate T cells and promote antitumor immunity. This transformation utilizes transcription factors such as PU.1, IRF8, and BATF3, enabling the modified cells to present antigens and stimulate cancer-specific T cell responses. Furthermore, researchers at the Wyss Institute have developed a metabolic labeling technology that enhances T cells' persistence in solid tumors by attaching immune-boosting cytokines directly to them, thereby improving their cancer-fighting capabilities.