Can allergy cells be used to fight cancer?
What's the story
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Zhejiang University and the First Hospital of China Medical University have leveraged the properties of mast cells, which are involved in allergic reactions, to fight cancer. The team used mast cells, immune cells that trigger allergic reactions upon exposure to certain antigens such as seafood and pollen, to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly into tumors. Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell.
Immune response
Mast cells: The immune system's double-edged sword
Mast cells are key players in our immune system, defending the body against pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and parasites. They also protect us from toxins such as venom. However, these cells can sometimes misidentify harmless substances like peanuts or dust mites as threats and trigger allergic reactions. This "over-defense" mechanism is what the Chinese team leveraged to combat cancer.
Innovative strategy
A new approach to cancer immunotherapy
The researchers have proposed using immunoglobulin E (IgE)-sensitized mast cells as a specific delivery platform for cancer immunotherapy. They said their study shows the potential of this new method in "personalized cancer therapy." The team is now looking into clinical applications of this technique and its possible combination with existing cancer immunotherapies.