In a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at Tel Aviv University have identified a protein that acts as a "brake" on the immune system, preventing it from attacking cancerous tumors. By reversing this mechanism, the immune system is able to target and eliminate even the most treatment-resistant cancers. This breakthrough, led by Professors Carmit Levy and Yaron Carmi, alongside MD/Ph.D. candidate Avishai Maliah, promises to unlock new, highly effective therapies for cancer patients worldwide.
Unveiling the Cancer's "Invisibility Cloak"
The Tel Aviv University team, published in Nature Communications, has uncovered a previously unknown biological pathway in which a protein, known as Ly6a, allows cancer cells to evade the immune system. While current immunotherapies rely on the protein PD1 to stimulate an immune response, nearly half of patients don’t respond to these treatments. The discovery of Ly6a's role opens new avenues for therapies that could extend effective cancer treatment to patients currently unresponsive to conventional immunotherapy.
Israeli antibody treatment targets most aggressive type of breast cancer
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The treatment could also be used to treat many other cancers, the @WeizmannScience Institute of Science announced on Sunday.
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“It all began by chance,” shares Prof. Levy. “My lab investigates both cancer and the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the body, two elements that share a common feature: they both suppress the immune system. In most research, we study how tumors block immune function. Here, however, we focused on the immune-suppressive effects of UV exposure to gain fresh insights into cancer. And it worked.”
Harnessing the Power of the Immune System Through Ly6a
This serendipitous shift in research perspective led to a remarkable finding. Avishai Maliah, the project’s lead researcher, observed that after UV exposure, T-cells—a type of white blood cell crucial to combating cancer—displayed elevated levels of Ly6a. This unexpected outcome raised a compelling question: if UV exposure causes immune suppression, could Ly6a be the mechanism? And if so, could “releasing the brake” imposed by Ly6a turbocharge the immune system's cancer-fighting capabilities?
Tel Aviv University has uncovered a mechanism which prevents the immune system from attacking cancer cells allowing treatment of all cancers by control of the suppression.
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Anti Israel trade protesters will boycott all treatment. pic.twitter.com/qlMPjCOQHc
“This finding was thrilling for us,” explains Prof. Carmi. “Our immune system is incredibly powerful, with layers of regulation to prevent it from attacking healthy tissues. But cancer exploits these same brakes to survive undetected. When our skin is exposed to UV light, the immune system jumps into action, repairing DNA and eliminating mutated cells. However, this response also triggers brakes like Ly6a to prevent excessive immune activation.”
Uncovering Ly6a's Role in Cancer Immunotherapy
In controlled lab settings, the researchers applied Ly6a antibodies to mice with melanoma and colon cancer. The results were nothing short of extraordinary: the tumors shrank significantly. Even tumors that were previously unresponsive to PD1 therapy—a mainstay in modern immunotherapy—reacted strongly to Ly6a antibodies. This suggests that Ly6a could be a crucial key to overcoming treatment resistance, potentially enabling the immune system to fight back against a wider range of cancers than ever before.
Israeli researchers discovered a way to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer cells, including in types of the disease considered resistant to prevailing forms of immunotherapy, Tel Aviv University announced on Wednesday.https://t.co/MPWQlderFG
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“This protein is overexpressed in melanoma, colon cancer, and likely other types as well,” says Prof. Levy. “We are likely looking at a universal mechanism by which tumors camouflage themselves from the immune system. With Ly6a antibodies, we’ve shown that we can cut through this camouflage.”
Toward a New Era of Cancer Treatment
The Tel Aviv University team’s discovery could hold profound implications for cancer treatment, offering hope to the nearly 50% of patients who do not respond to PD1-based immunotherapy. “Our findings could eventually lead to a new class of immunotherapies,” states Prof. Carmi. “We are now working tirelessly to translate this into a drug suitable for human patients. Our aim is nothing short of delivering a transformative, life-saving treatment.”
With clinical trials on the horizon, this research has the potential to reframe the future of oncology. Prof. Levy and her team remain optimistic about their journey. “This discovery is just the beginning,” she emphasizes. "We envision a world where the immune system can be unleashed against cancer in ways never before possible."
In the battle against cancer, Tel Aviv University’s discovery of Ly6a is a pioneering advancement, one that could redefine cancer treatment and reignite hope for millions of patients and families worldwide.
