New Cancer Treatment Mimics Ancient Military Strategy: A Breakthrough in Fighting Aggressive Breast Tumors

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science have uncovered a novel approach to treating aggressive forms of breast cancer. Inspired by a military tactic from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, this antibody treatment disrupts the molecular bridges that cancer cells use to suppress the immune system, offering new hope for patients suffering from triple-negative breast cancer.

The Strategy of a Strategist

“Build your enemy a golden bridge to retreat across” is a strategy from The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which now seems to be adopted by cancer cells. In their latest research, scientists from Prof. Idit Shachar’s laboratory observed that this tactic is employed by certain types of aggressive breast cancer. The tumor forces nearby immune cells to build molecular bridges between them, thereby suppressing the immune response.

Building Bridges to Immune Suppression

The researchers identified a protein called CD84 (SLAMF5) that aids in the construction of these molecular bridges. By activating CD84, cancer cells create physical bridges with adjacent cells, leading to immune suppression. In their earlier work on blood cancer, the team developed an antibody that obstructed these bridges, effectively slowing the disease progression.

Advancing into New Territory

Recognizing the potential of this discovery, Prof. Idit Shachar’s team set out to explore whether similar molecular bridges exist in other cancers. Dr. Steven Rosen from City of Hope suggested examining triple-negative breast cancer samples, which are notoriously difficult to treat due to their lack of identifiable markers.

A Surprising Discovery in Breast Cancer

Stav Rabani, a doctoral student in Shachar’s lab, led a study that analyzed genetic sequences from triple-negative breast cancer patients. The findings revealed that CD84 expression in the tumor microenvironment was significantly elevated, even though the breast cancer cells themselves contained low levels of CD84.

Moreover, the study found that CD84 prompted nearby immune cells to construct “molecular bridges” and produce a suppressor protein. This protein then targeted T cells, effectively preventing them from attacking the tumor. Patients with higher CD84 levels in their tumors tended to have shorter survival rates.

New Hope for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

The researchers then focused on regulatory B cells, which play a mysterious role in cancer. They discovered that these cells also build molecular bridges in the tumor microenvironment and produce suppressor proteins, contributing to immune suppression.

To counteract this, the team developed an antibody that targets CD84, the protein responsible for constructing these bridges. This antibody specifically works in the tumor microenvironment, sparing healthy cells and cells with low CD84 expression.

“We are presenting a treatment that might help a wide range of patients, since it focuses on the tumor microenvironment and not on the cancer cells themselves.”

Prof. Idit Shachar, Weizmann Institute of Science

From Lab to Market

Collaborations between the Weizmann Institute of Science and City of Hope led to the establishment of Slam BioTherapeutics, a company focused on developing cancer treatments using anti-SLAM family antibodies. This company is dedicated to expanding the use of these antibodies to various cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Statistics

Triple-negative breast cancer is the most aggressive type, representing up to 20% of all new breast cancer cases. It is particularly prevalent among patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, who are commonly found in Ashkenazi Jewish populations.

Conclusion

This discovery provides a new perspective on cancer treatment, emphasizing the importance of targeting the tumor microenvironment rather than the cancer cells themselves. By disrupting molecular bridges, scientists can enhance the immune system’s ability to combat cancer, offering hope to patients with aggressive breast tumors.

The next steps involve clinical trials to test the efficacy of the antibody treatment in human patients. If successful, this approach could establish a new paradigm in personalized medicine, specifically targeting the tumor microenvironment to combat cancer.

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