Specifically, the discovery made by a team from the IIS (Health Research Institute) Aragón, led by doctors Julián Pardo, Ariel Ramírez and Cecilia Pesini, has revealed that natural killer (NK) cells, responsible for the destruction of of cancer, they contain inside a protein (called PDI) that blocks tumor cells. This will help, therefore, to ensure that the destruction of the tumor by the NK is much more effective and precise.
The magazine Oncoimmunology, one of the most prestigious in cancer immunotherapy, has echoed this finding, confirming the importance of this result. «We have discovered that the PDI protein is in NK cells in the same place from which tumor cells are destroyed. Thus, When an NK faces a tumor and takes out all its weapons to destroy it, it will also expose this protein that will help block this», explains Ariel Ramírez to this newspaper.
An improved treatment
«Natural NK cells, normally, are in our body and are responsible for eliminating both infected and infected cells. tumorous, that they are constantly appearing in our body», explains this researcher. «We do not get sick because the NK destroys them, but When a tumor appears, it is because the tumor cells learn to outwit the NK cells or because the patient is immunosuppressed. due to treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy," says Ramírez.
«What we have seen is that the NK that we activate and modify, we can combine with that protein so that the treatment is more effective. That allows us to have an immune system more controlled," he says.
This project is funded by the Spanish Association Against Cancer Zaragoza and Aspanoa and the results it is showing suggest a hopeful future in the treatment. «This has beenor one of those things that we have found by surprise. We did tests and saw this result. We discussed it with Julián (Pardo) and we value being able to do the research that has now been published in this highly prestigious magazine,” says Ariel.
Aspanoa is looking for volunteers to play with the children
The Association of Parents of Oncological Children of Aragon (Aspanoa) is looking for volunteers to organize leisure and free time activities with minors suffering from cancer. The activities are carried out both at the Zaragoza Children's Hospital and at the Aspanoa headquarters in Duquesa Villahermosa. The ideal profile is that of people from 18 and 45 years between and, if possible, they have some experience in caring for children or organizing this type of activities. The voluntary work would be carried out one afternoon a week, from Monday to Saturday, from approximately 17.00:19.00 p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.. Interested parties, who are asked to commit to their availability for a correct organization, can contact Aspanoa at volunteering@aspanoa.org. Here you will be given instructions.
As a researcher, the fact that a publication of these characteristics echoes the finding is also "a plus" to continue with the work. «We are happy. Everything known about cancer can have an impact on the immune system. In cell therapies, blockers are already used, but what had not been found until now is the PDI protein in the same place on the NK from which tumor cells are attacked," emphasizes the expert. The next step will be to extend this finding to the clinical part. "We'll have to see how it can work," she says.
This advance It is part of one of the research lines of the first childhood cancer innovation project in Aragon. This is focused, in general, on studying why NK cells have stopped functioning in children with leukemias and neuroblastomas pto subsequently test in the laboratory whether introducing appropriately altered NK cells could create a more successful treatment against these childhood cancers, even in combination with other current therapies.
