Scientists unmask immune cells that supercharge the fight against cancer
· Medical Xpressedited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Alexander Pol
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A little-known group of hard-to-find immune cells could help transform cancer treatment, scientists at the University of Manchester's Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute have found. Their discovery, accepted for publication in the journal Immunity, centers on activated dendritic cells, a specialized population of immune cells that orchestrate the body's attack on cancer. It is available on the SSRN preprint server.
To make the discovery, the researchers developed the first mouse models capable of specifically labeling or removing activated dendritic cells. This allowed them to determine exactly how activated dendritic cells contribute to anticancer immunity. The models are expected to accelerate research into activated dendritic cells across cancer, infections and autoimmune diseases.
Until now, scientists have struggled to understand precisely how activated dendritic cells contribute to anticancer immunity because suitable models did not exist. Using the new models, the team showed that activated dendritic cells are indispensable for effective anticancer immune responses. Without them, cancer-killing T cells could neither be efficiently activated nor maintain their strength once inside tumors.
As a result, both spontaneous immune control of cancer and the efficacy of immunotherapy were impaired.
First author Dr. Maria Koufaki said, "Modern immunotherapies rely on strong and coordinated immune responses, yet many people still do not benefit from these treatments."
"If we can find ways to boost activated dendritic cells, we may be able to strengthen the immune system's response to cancer and help more patients benefit from immunotherapy, including some whose cancers currently resist treatment."
Senior author Santiago Zelenay said, "Activated dendritic cells do not just launch the antitumor immune responses, they are also essential for sustaining them within the tumor itself.
"This changes how we think about their role and opens up new opportunities to improve cancer immunotherapy."
Research Information Manager at Cancer Research UK Dr. Marianne Baker said, "Immunotherapies that harness our immune system to beat cancer are saving lives, but we don't yet understand why they work for some people and not others.
"The models developed as part of this study could help scientists unlock ways to boost these revolutionary treatments via dendritic cells, a type of immune cell. We need more research to get there, but this work could help to solve unanswered questions in cancer immunotherapy and beyond."
Publication details
Maria Koufaki et al, CCR7+ Activated Dendritic Cells are Essential For Natural and Immunotherapy-Driven Anti-Tumor Immunity, SSRN (2025). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5342557
Journal information: Immunity
Key medical concepts
ImmunotherapyT-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
Clinical categories
OncologyAllergy and immunology Provided by University of Manchester Who's behind this story?
Lisa Lock
BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →
Alexander Pol
PhD nano-engineering from Delft University. Published researcher and journal reviewer. Brings scientific insight to content standards. Full profile →
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