Portuguese Researchers Make Progress in Developing Immunotherapy Targeting Colorectal Cancer

Portuguese researchers working to advance colorectal cancer treatment have discovered a new type of white blood cell that could open the door to more effective forms of immunotherapy. The white blood cells’ robust tumor cell identification and eradication abilities could enable researchers to develop a novel immunotherapy to combat colorectal cancer, currently the second most common type of cancer in Portugal and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide.

The research was led by Gulbenkian Institute of Molecular Medicine (GIMM) Foundation lead investigator Bruno Silva-Santos and researcher Sofia Mensurado, who demonstrated that this new cell therapy is more effective at eliminating tumors. The therapy uses cellular expansion and stimulation to make the newly discovered white blood cells, dubbed “Dot Cells“, more powerful at destroying cancerous tumors.

Although these white blood cells are highly effective at identifying and destroying cancer cells, they naturally occur in low numbers. Study author Rafael Blanco-Domínguez explained that two main objectives of the study were to prove that Dot Cells could be effective in treating colorectal cancer and to determine whether their anti-tumor capabilities could be boosted.

Researchers in Portugal are working diligently to find more effective treatments for colorectal cancer as the disease is often resistant to existing immunotherapy methods. According to Sofia Mensurado, the study found that Dot Cells are indeed effective against colorectal tumors, and their anti-cancer activity can be enhanced with a natural compound called butyrate.

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by intestinal bacteria, boosts Dot Cells’ ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. After combining the Dot Cell therapy with existing forms of immunotherapy, the researchers discovered that this new white blood cell could significantly improve outcomes for patients undergoing colorectal cancer treatment.

According to Bruno Silva-Santos, Dot Cells present a promising new cancer therapy because they are not limited by the genetic variability between patients. As a result, healthy donors could contribute Dot Cells to cell banks, potentially leading to the development of a universal cellular immunotherapy that can be used across a wide population regardless of genetic background.

Immunotherapy is a cutting-edge form of cancer treatment that leverages the body’s own immune system to target and kill malignant cells. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation, which can damage healthy tissue, immunotherapy trains immune cells to recognize and destroy only malignant cells. For some cancers, immunotherapy has success rates as high as 40–50%, particularly in advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

This breakthrough paves the way for more accessible and effective colorectal cancer therapies and suggests new avenues for developing universal immunotherapies for other hard-to-treat solid tumors.

Meanwhile, other research teams at companies like Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) are also conducting their own R&D activities aimed at bringing to market the next immunotherapy breakthrough against various cancers. The future therefore looks bright for this approach to treating malignancies.

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