Scientists develop protein attacker of cancer

Scientists say they are developing a protein that makes the body's immune cells into the tumor cells and cancer cells.

The first study published in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' was conducted by an international team led by Professor Ruth Ganss, Western Australian Intitute for Medical Research.

"Until now, immunotherapy has not been successfully used to treat cancer because the tumor is very resistant to immune cells," said Dr. Anna Johanson, of the University of Western Australia, a member of the team.

"Having a cancerous tumor grows, he formed a solid ball and is very difficult to penetrate by immune cells. Even if they could fit in tumor cells, the atmosphere in it will soon kill the immune cells or make them difficult to react."

"We developed a protein called TNF-alpha that can be entered into the pancreatic tumor and stay there without poisoning the outside of the tumor. TNF-alpha affects the blood vessels in tumors and in a surprising way to open the tumor cells so that immune cells can enter into it. "

"We think this will damage the blood vessels due to TNF-alpha can be very toxic, but with a low dose, this protein was able to improve vascular health and helps immune cells to enter the cancer cells," he explained in a press release, as reported by Indian Express.

TNF-alpha has shown an increase in the response of tumor cells to chemotherapy. But until now researchers still can not find the reason. This study provides the knowledge that the protein TNF-alpha in low doses can be combined with immunotherapy.