Study reveals how inflammatory immune cells enhance prostate cancer resistance

· News-Medical
The image shows prostate cancer cells in which KLF4 (red) and the CD44 protein (green) on the cell membrane are stained. Image: Kirsi Kainulainen, University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Biomedicine

The study examined the impact of factors promoting inflammation in a tumor microenvironment on the progression of prostate cancer. Researchers focused particularly on the role of M1 and M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Macrophages are immune cells whose large number in the tumor area is often a sign of poor prognosis in relation to prostate cancer. The study found that pro- inflammatory macrophages (M1) increase the stem cell traits of cancer cells and weaken the androgen response.

The results help us understand how immune response affects the progression of prostate cancer and resistance to treatments. Observations on the effects of immune cells on the transformation capacity of cancer cells may open up new treatment opportunities for prostate cancer.

Source:

University of Eastern Finland

Journal reference:

Kainulainen, K., et al. (2024) Secreted factors from M1 macrophages drive prostate cancer stem cell plasticity by upregulating NANOG, SOX2, and CD44 through NFκB-signaling. Oncoimmunology. doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2024.2393442.