Scientists uncovered a mechanism by which cancer cells prevent the immune system from activating and attacking the cancerous invaders. The study sheds light on why immunotherapy treatments don’t work for all people or all diseases. For example, certain types of cancers — including colon, pancreatic, prostate and brain cancers — have stubbornly resisted immunotherapy. And while breast, esophageal and head and neck cancers often respond favorably, sometimes the treatments don’t work as planned. Researchers still don’t understand exactly why.
Scientists uncovered a mechanism by which cancer cells prevent the immune system from activating and attacking the cancerous invaders. The study sheds light on why immunotherapy treatments don’t work for all people or all diseases. For example, certain types of cancers — including colon, pancreatic, prostate and brain cancers — have stubbornly resisted immunotherapy. And while breast, esophageal and head and neck cancers often respond favorably, sometimes the treatments don’t work as planned. Researchers still don’t understand exactly why. Scientists uncovered a mechanism by which cancer cells prevent the immune system from activating and attacking the cancerous invaders. The study sheds light on why immunotherapy treatments don’t work for all people or all diseases. For example, certain types of cancers — including colon, pancreatic, prostate and brain cancers — have stubbornly resisted immunotherapy. And while breast, esophageal and head and neck cancers often respond favorably, sometimes the treatments don’t work as planned. Researchers still don’t understand exactly why.