Immune signals can predict cancer spread

Researchers from La Trobe University’s Cancer Microenvironment and Immunology laboratory, led by Dr Belinda Parker, have discovered that the key to effective breast cancer treatment may lie in predicting the path the cancer plans to take.

The team found that aggressive cancer cells are able to switch off immune signals in order to remain undetected in the body. As they remain hidden, the cells are free to spread — they can move quickly from the breast or prostate to the bones and other organs without the body being aware it needs to fight back.

“We’ve been trying to determine whether a patient is more likely to develop spread to distant tissues or if they should receive therapies which could switch such immune signals back on,” Dr Parker said.

She explained that patients with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer don’t have many treatment options, because they can’t receive targeted therapies that are currently available for other breast cancer patients.

However, by looking at the immune signals in the cancers of each particular patient, “we can actually predict who is likely to get spread throughout down the track”, Dr Parker said. She added that the team found a similar mechanism happening in prostate cancer.

“When people talk about cancer and finding new therapies, what they’re forgetting is: can we work out who should be spared therapy?” Dr Parker said.

“We feel something will be implemented in the next five years.”