prostate-report.org

Immune system used to reduce prostate cancer risk

A research team from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre has found a novel way to reduce the genetic risk of prostate cancer.

Typically, vaccines are based on specific antigens and trigger immunity for a specific pathogen.

It is challenging for cancer as the best lymphocytes that generate immunity to cancer are eliminated during development. The researchers have revealed that rescuing these critical immune system cells can help reduce genetic risk of prostate cancer. They sought to rescue key lymphocytes – called high affinity cancer-reactive T cells – during their development. During the study, researchers showed that T cells involved in prostate cancer are deleted because of a gene called lymphotoxin alpha. When the lymphotoxin was eliminated, these T cells came back.