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Author Spotlight: Computing the Effects of a Local Radiofrequency Hyperthermia Intervention on Tumor Biomechanics
Published on: December 1, 2023
649
Hunger brings down the tumor fort
Anastasia-Maria Zavitsanou1, Thales Papagiannakopoulos2
1Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Trends in Cell Biology
|May 26, 2021
Summary
Energy stress from ketogenic diets or fasting enhances cancer immunotherapy. This approach promotes the breakdown of the PD-L1 protein and boosts anti-tumor interferon responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Metabolic pathways
- Cancer therapy
Background:
- Checkpoint blockade therapy is a promising cancer treatment.
- Tumor cells can evade immune responses by expressing PD-L1.
- Metabolic interventions are being explored to improve cancer treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of energy stress on checkpoint blockade therapy.
- To determine the mechanisms by which energy stress enhances anti-tumor immunity.
Main Methods:
- Mice models were subjected to ketogenic diets or fasting.
- Tumor growth and immune responses were monitored.
- Levels of PD-L1 and interferon signaling were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Energy stress significantly enhanced the efficacy of checkpoint blockade therapy.
- Ketogenic diet and fasting led to lysosome-mediated degradation of PD-L1.
- Upregulation of tumor interferon responses was observed.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic interventions like ketogenic diets or fasting can overcome resistance to checkpoint blockade therapy.
- Targeting metabolic pathways offers a novel strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
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