Groundbreaking research shows that mitochondria DNA Mutations are important indicators of a patient’s likelihood of responding to immunotherapy, revolutionizing cancer treatment approaches.
Cancer Research UK-funded scientists have made a rare discovery that could help identify patients who are up to 2.5 times more likely to respond to currently available anti-cancer drugs.
Scientists from the Scottish Institute for Cancer Research UK and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the US have “rewired” the DNA of mitochondria, the energy factories found in all living cells. By creating mutations in this part of DNA, researchers can determine how well cancer responds to immunotherapy, a treatment that uses the body’s natural defenses to attack cancer cells. I have found that it is possible to decide.
This discovery opens a new way to identify patients who may benefit most from immunotherapy by testing for mitochondrial DNA mutations. Half of all cancers have mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, and this discovery shows for the first time that these mutations can be exploited to improve cancer treatment.
In the future, combining immunotherapy with treatments that mimic the effects of these mutations may increase the chances of successful treatment of multiple cancer types.
In a paper published in a magazine natural cancer Today (January 29th)th), scientists have demonstrated for the first time that there is a direct link between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and response to cancer treatment. Remarkably, tumors with high levels of mtDNA mutations were found to be up to 2.5 times more likely to respond to treatment with an immunotherapy drug called nivolumab.
Nivolumab works by releasing the “brakes” on the immune system that attack cancer cells. It is currently used to treat several different cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, and colorectal cancer. Scientists believe that in the future it will be possible to routinely test for mutations in mitochondrial DNA, allowing doctors to understand which patients will benefit most from immunotherapy before starting treatment. Masu.
They also have the potential to make treatment-resistant cancers more sensitive to immunotherapy by mimicking the effects of mitochondrial DNA mutations, potentially allowing thousands more cancer patients to benefit from this pioneering treatment. I think you can receive it.
The technology behind this discovery is now the subject of a patent filed by Cancer Research Horizons, the innovation arm of Cancer Research UK. This will help bring to market technologies that will enable the development of new treatments that disrupt the energy sources that cancer uses to spread and grow. To date, Cancer Research Horizons has brought 11 new cancer drugs to market, which are used in more than 6 million cancer treatments worldwide.
Group Leader at Cancer Research Scotland UK and university of glasgow Dr. Payam Gammage, co-lead author of the study, said:
“Cancer is a disease of our own bodies. Cancer cells can look like healthy cells on the outside, so getting the immune system to recognize and destroy them is a complex task.
“More than half of cancers have mutations in their mitochondrial DNA. But when we manipulated these mutations in the lab, we found that tumors with the most mutations in mitochondrial DNA were much more sensitive to immunotherapy. Ta.
“Thanks to this research, we now have a powerful tool that provides an entirely new approach to halting cancer progression.”
“We’re excited to announce that this is the first time we’ve seen this study,” said Ed Resnick, Ph.D., resident computational oncology assistant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and co-senior author of the study.
“Mitochondrial DNA has remained a mystery for decades. There are thousands of copies in every cell, and until now mutations have been consistently analyzed to study how mtDNA mutations affect cancer. It was very difficult to operate.
“When we create mitochondrial DNA mutations in the lab, for the first time we can see exactly what impact those mutations have. But what surprised us was how much the cells surrounding the tumor were affected. This can be used to make tumors more vulnerable to treatment.
“This research opens up a whole world of possibilities to rewire a tumor’s energy sources and short-circuit them to defeat cancer faster.”
Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK and CEO of Cancer Research Horizons, said:
“After years of painstaking research funded by Cancer Research UK, we have identified a critical weakness in cancer. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA are a common part of cancer, and this surprising There are endless possibilities for discovery.
“Therapies that harness cancer’s overburdened mitochondria are now available. Clinical trials are now needed to see which combinations work best for patients. Our innovation engine, Cancer Through Research Horizons, we plan to accelerate this discovery into clinical practice so that as many patients as possible can benefit.”
The paper is published today (January 29th).th) in natural cancer.
Reference: “Mitochondrial DNA mutations promote aerobic glycolysis and enhance checkpoint blockade in melanoma” January 29, 2024 natural cancer.
DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00721-w