N※N

Cancer Immunotherapy Breakthrough: Reprogramming Tumor Cells

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. rapy-breakthrough-reprogramming-tumor-cells.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, February 4th 2026 at 11:45 GMT by earth
      Locales: California, Massachusetts, Maryland, UNITED STATES

San Diego, CA - February 4th, 2026 - In a groundbreaking development that could redefine cancer immunotherapy, researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have successfully reprogrammed immune cells within tumors to actively destroy cancer, rather than support its growth. Published originally in Cell Metabolism in 2024, and now with expanded preclinical data presented today, this innovative approach tackles a long-standing challenge in oncology: overcoming the immune suppression characteristic of solid tumors.

For decades, cancer has been understood as a disease of uncontrolled cell growth. However, it's increasingly clear that the interplay between cancer cells and the immune system is critical. Tumors aren't just ignored by the immune system; they actively manipulate it, creating a microenvironment that shields them from attack. A key component of this manipulation involves myeloid cells - a diverse group of immune cells normally responsible for initiating and coordinating immune responses. These cells infiltrate tumors, but instead of launching an assault on the cancer, they are often co-opted, becoming what are known as Tumor-Infiltrating Myeloid cells (TIMs).

TIMs function as unwitting accomplices to cancer. They actively suppress the activity of other immune cells, like T cells, preventing them from recognizing and destroying cancer cells. They also promote angiogenesis - the growth of new blood vessels that nourish the tumor - and help create a physical barrier that isolates the cancer from the body's natural defenses. Traditional immunotherapies, which aim to boost the overall immune response, often fail in solid tumors because they can't overcome this entrenched immunosuppression.

Dr. Geoffrey Littler, the senior author of the study, explains the team's paradigm shift: "We realized that instead of trying to add immune cells to the tumor, we could try to change the ones that were already there. It's like turning enemy soldiers into allies."

The Sanford Burnham Prebys team focused on the metabolic processes within TIMs. Cancer cells, and even corrupted immune cells, exhibit altered metabolic profiles. They discovered that a specific metabolic pathway - oxidative phosphorylation - played a crucial role in maintaining the cancer-supporting function of TIMs. Oxidative phosphorylation is a process used by cells to generate energy. By selectively disrupting this pathway within TIMs, the researchers were able to fundamentally alter their behavior.

"We essentially flipped a switch," explains lead researcher Dr. Anya Sharma. "By interfering with oxidative phosphorylation, we starved the TIMs of the energy they needed to perform their cancer-promoting activities. This created a cascade of changes, reprogramming them into potent cancer killers." The reprogrammed TIMs not only directly attacked cancer cells but also began to recruit other immune cells to join the fight, amplifying the anti-tumor response.

The results in mouse models have been remarkably promising. Mice with aggressive tumors treated with the reprogrammed TIMs experienced significant tumor shrinkage and dramatically improved survival rates. The study demonstrated efficacy across multiple cancer types in mice, including melanoma, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer - all historically difficult-to-treat malignancies. Importantly, the reprogrammed TIMs appeared to have a limited impact on healthy tissues, suggesting a potentially favorable safety profile.

Beyond Mice: The Road to Human Trials

The team is now focused on translating these findings into clinical trials. Several key challenges remain. Developing a safe and effective method to deliver the reprogramming signal specifically to TIMs within human tumors is paramount. Researchers are exploring various delivery systems, including modified viruses and nanoparticles, designed to target TIMs and disrupt oxidative phosphorylation.

Another area of investigation is the potential for combining this reprogramming approach with existing cancer therapies. "We envision a future where this could be used in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation, or other immunotherapies to create a synergistic effect," says Dr. Littler. "By breaking down the tumor's defenses from the inside, we can make these other treatments even more effective."

The implications of this research are far-reaching. If successful in human trials, this approach could offer a new lifeline for patients with cancers that have proven resistant to conventional treatments. It represents a significant step forward in the ongoing quest to harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer, not by simply boosting it, but by intelligently repurposing the cells already present at the battlefield.