In a study published in JCI Insight, researchers have identified checkpoint inhibitor resistance mechanisms in many solid tumour cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer.

Checkpoint inhibitors (CI) are a type of drug that patients with cancer can take to help block proteins made by certain immune system cells, such as T cells.

In the normal body, the proteins help keep the immune system in check; but also, they keep T cells from attacking cancer cells that a person may have developed.

CI drugs block these proteins, enabling T cells to fight cancer more effectively.

However, with patients’ living longer, tumours are able to evade the therapy and alter their gene expression, ultimately tricking a person’s immune system and checkpoint inhibitors from responding and attacking cancerous cells.

The published research looked at patients who had relapsed after a checkpoint inhibitor course of treatment.

In the study, Davis and his team sought to determine how certain expression patterns on tumour cells could give physicians an idea of whether the patient’s immune system would not respond to checkpoint inhibitors, ultimately causing a lack of response when fighting off cancerous cells.

In fact, a receptor co-discovered by the team several years ago – FCRL6 may serve as a new checkpoint target in these patients, identifying it as a potential immunotherapy option in the future.

“Our findings are significant for anyone who is a candidate for checkpoint inhibitors,” Davis said. “We know that, as patients respond well to treatment and live longer, tumours are smart and will ultimately work to evade one’s immune system. We’re hopeful that we are closer to identifying a new mechanism that could be targeted for future therapies.”

Credit: ecancer.org and University of Alabama at Birmingham