Researchers at City of Hope, a leading cancer research and treatment institution in the United States, have developed a targeted antibody designed to suppress leukemia stem cells and reduce the risk of disease progression. The findings were shared in Blood magazine and signal a potential shift in how blood cancers are tackled at their root.
The drive behind this work was to uncover a safer, more effective way to treat leukemia, a malignant disease where abnormal white blood cells flood the bloodstream. These defective cells fail to protect the body against infections, and their accumulation disrupts the function of various organs and systems. The team aimed to quiet the harmful signals that let cancer cells thrive, while preserving normal immune activity.
Central to the science is a substance called interferon gamma, an immune signal that normally helps curb the division of leukemia stem cells. In some cases, however, IFN gamma can inadvertently trigger the production of a protein named CD38, which dampens the immune system’s ability to fight infections. The new antibody works by nudging the immune system to target and destroy cancer stem cells while leaving healthy cells intact.
In the early stages of leukemia, abnormal cells known as blasts begin to form within the bone marrow. These cells can divide rapidly yet remain vulnerable to immune attack, while cancer stem cells present a tougher challenge due to their dormant or resistant states. Experiments conducted in mice demonstrated that the antibody could help eliminate both immature dormant cancer stem cells and actively dividing cancer cells, offering a broader attack on the disease.
Experts believe that reducing or eradicating leukemia stem cells could lower the chance of the cancer returning after initial treatment. Nonetheless, before any therapy can be tested in human volunteers, additional research and clinical studies are required to establish safety, optimal dosing, and effectiveness across patient groups.
Earlier work in the field has also touched on autoimmune processes related to other health conditions, reflecting the broader context in which this cancer research sits and the ongoing effort to map immune system interactions with disease drivers.