Teddy Bear Hospital. photo by National Cancer Institute/ Unsplash
A recent study by Prof. Yifat Merbl’s team at the Weizmann Institute of Science has delved deep into the cellular source of antigens – the waste-processing machinery known as the proteasome – and discovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows cancer cells to slip by immune system defenses. Their findings were published in Nature Cancer.
This comes after in August researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science also announced they identified a biomarker that they say may one day enable a subgroup of lung cancer patients to benefit from relapse-free treatment. The Weizmann Institute of Science researchers reported findings that may lead to relapse-free treatment for a sizeable subgroup of lung cancer patients.
The human body’s immune system uses its own judgment to identify dangerous cellular profiles. Immune cells patrol the body and check out protein pieces called antigens, which are presented on the surface of cells when proteins are broken down. If an antigen pattern looks suspicious, the immune system “hits delete” and destroys the cell.
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In cancer, regulatory processes are disrupted, increasing the likelihood that abnormal proteins will be produced and presented as antigens on the cellular surface. Yet, despite their suspicious antigen profile, cancer cells manage to evade the immune system’s watchful gaze.
The proteasome is a cellular machine that breaks down proteins. It is essential for many cellular processes, including the removal of damaged or worn-out proteins, the regulation of gene expression, and the production of antigens.
Antigens are protein fragments that are displayed on the surface of cells. They are used by the immune system to identify and eliminate infected or cancerous cells.
The proteasome plays a central role in antigen processing. It breaks down proteins into peptides, which are then transported to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where they are bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. MHC molecules then transport the peptides to the cell surface, where they can be recognized by immune cells.
The proteasome is also involved in the production of specialized antigens called immunodominant antigens. Immunodominant antigens are peptides that are more likely to be recognized by the immune system than other peptides. They are thought to play an important role in the development of immunity to pathogens and cancer.
Overall, the proteasome plays a vital role in the immune system by generating antigens that can be used to identify and eliminate infected or cancerous cells.
Startup Nation has a number of companies that are developing new cancer treatments. Israel’s OncoHost is developing new ways to test the blood of cancer patients in order to determine which treatments will be the most effective. Novellus is an Israeli clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on precision oncology (treatment for cancer).
And Israeli universities are at the forefront of research into new cancer treatments. In August, Israeli Researchers from Tel Aviv University said they may have found a new way to predict the onset of breast cancer through genetic testing. They say that they have developed a computational model that makes it possible to predict each woman’s genetic risk of developing breast cancer based on her genetic profile. The new computational model, they say, will allow, for the first time in Israel, the determination of a personal genetic risk score for breast cancer based on the genetic profile of each woman.
