New way to kill cancer found with the body's immune system

Scientists have discovered a new way to kill cancer cells in a breakthrough, could be new treatments for a number of different types of cancer.

Researchers at the University of Manchester, working with colleagues at Southampton University, examines how the antibody treatment killed the cancer cells themselves and have found a previously unknown mechanism, which may in the future even more effective to his death.

When linking an antibody to cells, including cancer cells, they can "flag", the objectives of the destruction by the immune system, but this recent study showed that the antibodies can kill cancer cells directly. If the antibody binds, which lysosomes - small bags with acid - into the cell to swell and burst, the early release of their toxic content with the fatal outcome of the cancer cell.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, offers hope to other alternative approaches to kill cancer cells that may be resistant to traditional chemotherapy treatments.

"A number of treatments for cancer antibodies have been developed over the past ten years, and some of them are a major step forward in treatment," says Professor Tim Illidge, Manchester's School of Cancer Imaging and Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.

"Our research focuses on antibodies bind to many, a molecule that many leukemia and lymphoma cells CD20. Until now, scientists do not understand how these antibodies as treatments for cancers of the blood, but our research not only to identify how they kill cancer cells, but also an insight into how other antibodies which in this mechanism could be developed. "

Dr. Mark Cragg, University of Southampton, added: "Our results are important and the possibility of applying knowledge, such as antibodies can be developed for the cells and we can design treatments for other cancers.


The major study was funded by the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR), leukemia, research, Cancer Research UK and Tenovus. Dr. Mark Matfield the AICR, said: "The discovery of a new mechanism, which will kill the cancer cells themselves is an important step in cancer research. Killing of cancer cells is the basis of all successful cancer treatments.

Dr David Grant, for research into leukemia, said: "The discovery of the only means of antibody therapies to kill cancer cells, for the first time demonstrated why they are more effective than chemotherapy. It may lead to new therapies for patients with types of blood cancer that are not cured with conventional chemotherapy. "

Dr. Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK's Director of Cancer Information, said: "Although at an early stage, this research provides valuable information, such as monoclonal antibodies to kill cancer cells and may lead to more effective cancer treatment in the future. "

Ian Lewis, Tenovus Research Manager, added: "The beauty of this research is that it shows how the immune system can be mobilized to selectively destroy cancer patients. Normally the immune system fighting to tell the difference between a cancer cell and a healthy cell, but thanks to this research, we now know that the success of treatment and thus the antibodies, as on the all therapeutic antibodies against cancer. "