Sign up for our Oncology Central weekly news round-up

How can methionine make immunotherapy more effective against cancer?

Written by Ebony Torrington, Future Science Group

methionine

Researchers from University of Michigan (MI, USA) observed the tumor microenvironment to better understand how tumors metabolize amino acids. They found that methionine had the biggest impact on T-cell function and survival. T cells became abnormal when they had the lowest levels of methionine. The team also found that low levels altered histone patterns that caused T cells to be impaired. There is competition between the tumor cells and the T cells for the methionine. Tumor cells have more transporters and therefore, take up more than the T cells. This results in the T cells becoming redundant. Previously it was...

To view this content, please register now for access

It's completely free