According to a study from Northwestern Medicine, published in Science Advances, the targeting of cellular post-transcription mechanisms in the CD73 ectoenzyme may possibly promote the slowing of cancer progression and anti-tumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
The goal of the study was to recognize new therapeutic targets that would be able to mobilize the immune system to overcome tumor-induced immunosuppression from TNBC cells. It was found that heightened levels of CD73 were expressed on the surface of the cancer cells, which is abnormal, and was established from evaluating TNBC cell lines. This indicates that these heightened levels increase immunosuppressive activity in the microenvironment of the tumor.
The researchers concluded that these findings uncover a possible new therapeutic strategy in preventing TNBC tumor progression by mitigating CD73 protein levels. Bin Zhang, MD, PhD, who co-led this study, also stated that decreased CD73 levels and heightened TRIM21 levels in cancer cells may also be biomarkers in recognizing patients who may have a more promising response to immunotherapy.
Reference: Rohman M. Novel Therapeutic Targets Discovered for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Northwestern Medicine. Published January 18, 2023. Accessed February 9, 2023. https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2023/01/18/novel-therapeutic-targets-discovered-for-triple-negative-breast-cancer/
