Positive development for cancer treatments from LUMC research
Research by Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) shows that CD8 T cells work better when their cell division is temporarily paused. Many people assume cells weaken after such a pause. These are immune cells that help your body by attacking diseased cells, such as cancer cells. On the contrary, during a pause, they prepare themselves to fight cancer more effectively. Researchers indicate that this discovery provides new insights into how cancer treatments can be combined more effectively.
Charging defence cells, it’s possible
Researchers at LUMC used cancer drugs to inhibit cell division temporarily. During this pause, the CD8 T cells remain active but stop multiplying. This allows them to absorb more nutrients, store extra energy, and produce more IL-2. IL-2 is a substance that plays an important role in the growth and survival of immune cells. Professor Ramon Arens, lead researcher on this project, explains: ‘During the pause, the cells recharge themselves, as it were. They prepare themselves for what comes next.’
Faster and stronger after the break
“Rested” CD8 T cells respond faster and more powerfully, and show faster cell division, than regular ones. Arens explains: ‘The CD8 T cells know how to use this temporary pause to their advantage. Afterwards, they come back stronger and remain active for longer.’ While other immune cell types benefit from a short break, CD8 T cells stand out. For them, this break not only functions as an interruption but also as a preparation; they adjust their metabolism and store energy, leading to rapid growth as soon as the brake is released. Trials in mice indicated slower tumour growth and enhanced effectiveness of immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. Human biopsies from breast cancer patients confirmed that CD8 T cells were significantly more active in patients who had received a drug that temporarily inhibited cell division, demonstrating the positive effects in humans, too.
Positive consequences for cancer treatment
Many cancer treatments already focus on inhibiting cell division. However, there were concerns about the negative effects on the immune system. This research, recently published in the scientific journal “Nature Immunology,” shows that a brief, well-timed pause can strengthen immune cells. The study indicates that existing treatments could be combined more intelligently in the future to strengthen the immune system in the fight against cancer. Arens sums it up beautifully: ‘Sometimes stopping for a moment is not a step backwards, but good preparation for coming back stronger. This applies not only to people, but also to our immune cells.’
