New method turns tumour-supporting cells into killers

IANS April 11, 2025 244 views

A breakthrough scientific discovery by an international research team has revealed how to genetically reprogram immune cells called macrophages from tumor supporters to cancer killers. By identifying the Zeb2 gene as a critical "switch", scientists can now potentially transform cells that previously helped cancer grow into effective immune defenders. The research, conducted using advanced gene-editing tools and artificial intelligence, demonstrated successful tumor reduction in mouse models. This innovative approach could revolutionize cancer treatment by turning the body's own cellular mechanisms against tumors.

"Macrophages are highly versatile cells, sort of a 'Swiss knife' of the immune system" - Prof. Ido Amit, Weizmann Institute
Jerusalem, April 11: An international team of researchers from Israel, the US, and China has developed a genetic method to reprogramme a type of immune cell, turning them from cancer promoters to inhibitors.

Key Points

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Researchers identify Zeb2 gene as master switch for macrophage behavior

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Gene editing turns tumor-supporting cells into cancer fighters

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CRISPR technique successfully shrinks tumors in mice experiments

The team, led by Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, focused on macrophages -- a type of immune cell that can induce immune responses. But in many cancers, macrophages become allies that protect the tumour, help it grow, and even aid in spreading it to other tissues, Xinhua news agency reported.

Using advanced gene-editing tools and artificial intelligence, the researchers analysed human tumour samples and identified 120 genes potentially responsible for the transformation.

"Macrophages are highly versatile cells, sort of a 'Swiss knife' of the immune system, capable of activating multiple types of functions for different tasks and in different situations," said Prof. Ido Amit, a faculty member of Weizmann's Systems Immunology Department.

These cells can potentially be highly effective cancer eradicators that can perform multiple antitumor functions, such as promoting anticancer inflammation or alerting the rest of the immune system to the dangers posed by tumour cells. That's precisely the reason most solid cancers need to convert macrophages to their side to develop.

"By doing that, the tumours protect themselves from the macrophages' 'nasty' side, and also turn on macrophage functions that help them grow, such as suppressing the activity of other immune cell types and encouraging blood vessel growth for supplying oxygen to the tumour," Amit added.

Through CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and single-cell analysis, they zeroed in on a gene named Zeb2.

The researchers found that Zeb2 acts as a master switch. When the gene is active, it turns macrophages into cancer supporters. When silenced, macrophages revert to their natural, cancer-fighting role.

Further studies showed that Zeb2 alters the epigenome -- the genome's control centre -- unlocking genes that help cancer and shutting down those that fight it.

The team designed a DNA molecule that delivers a gene-silencing agent directly into macrophages.

In mice with bladder cancer, injecting the molecule into the tumour successfully reprogrammed the macrophages. The tumours got significantly smaller.

Reader Comments

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Sarah K.
This is incredible! Turning the body's own defenses against cancer is such an elegant solution. Hope this leads to human trials soon 🤞
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Mike T.
The science here is fascinating but I wonder about the long-term effects. Reprogramming immune cells sounds powerful but could there be unintended consequences we're not seeing yet?
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Jamal R.
As someone who lost a parent to cancer, reading about breakthroughs like this gives me hope. The international collaboration aspect is especially encouraging - science knows no borders!
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Anita P.
The article mentions bladder cancer results - does anyone know if this approach might work for other cancer types too? The mechanism sounds like it could be broadly applicable.
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David L.
While promising, the article could have explained more about the AI's role in identifying the genes. Was it machine learning analyzing patterns? More details would help understand the full picture.
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Elena M.
The Swiss knife analogy makes so much sense! Our immune system is amazing when it works properly. This research gives me chills (the good kind) 😊

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Tags:
Cancer Research Immunotherapy Weizmann Institute Gene Editing CRISPR Prof. Ido Amit
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