Scientists discover how the body’s killer cells attack cancer

Scientists are on the verge of a breakthrough in fighting cancer after discovering how the body’s immune system attacks cells destroyed by the disease.

A new study has found that our immune system’s natural killer cells, which protect against disease and infection, instinctively recognize and attack a protein that promotes cancer growth. The experts say that by hijacking this protein, called XPO1, they may be able to activate more killer cells to destroy the disease.

Scientists from the University of Southampton led the study in collaboration with experts from around the world and are now convinced that it could enable new and less invasive forms of treatment. The results were published in the Scientific advances Magazine.

Lead author, Professor of Hepatology Salim Khakoo from Southampton, said it was previously thought that killer cells attack cancer cells in a random manner.

He added: “Our results actually show how our body’s immune system recognizes and attacks these cancer cells. Killer cells are a new form of immunotherapy that is very promising.”

“They do not attack healthy tissue like chemotherapy and other immunotherapies, so they are safer and have fewer side effects than conventional forms of cancer treatment.”

The protein the scientists studied, XPO1, is essential for normal cell function. However, in many types of cancer, it becomes overactive and allows malignant cells to multiply unchecked. The Southampton scientists found that a peptide – short chains of amino acids – derived from the XPO1 protein attracts the natural killer cells. This, they say, triggers the body’s immune response against the cancer cells.

Prof Khakoo added: “Cancer patients who had both active killer cells and high levels of XPO1 had significantly better survival rates. This is true across a range of cancers, including those with higher mortality rates such as liver cancer, where the average survival rate is only 18 months.”

“In addition to liver cancer, killer cell therapy could also be used in the future to treat head and neck cancer, endometrial cancer, bladder cancer or breast cancer.”

Previous studies have linked natural killer cells to the body’s defense against cancer, but the latest study is the first of its kind to demonstrate a viable technique for activating killer cells – which specifically attack the protein XPO1 – to fight the disease.

Co-author Professor Ralf Schittenhelm of Monash University in Australia said the discovery could change the course of immunotherapy.

“We hope this could lead to personalized cancer treatment, especially in cases where traditional therapies have failed. The potential to develop targeted therapies that harness the body’s own immune system is incredibly exciting.”

The team of scientists in Southampton is currently working on developing the world’s first vaccine that uses natural killer cells to fight cancer.