Senescence-targeting nanoparticles may enhance immunotherapy

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/senescence-targeting-nanoparticles-may-enhance-immunotherapy Senescence-targeting nanoparticles may enhance immunotherapy At a Glance Researchers developed a nanoparticle treatment in mice to eliminate certain cells that can drive tissue scarring around tumors and prevent anti-tumor therapies from working. The approach made tumors more sensitive to therapies that boost the immune response to cancer and might one day be applied to humans. The nanoparticle treatment could help immunotherapy work better on lung cancer (red) growing in areas of fibrosis (green). NIH’s National Cancer Institute / Fox Chase Cancer Center Chronic inflammation can fuel a form of scarring called fibrosis linked to cancer. Areas of fibrotic tissues often contain lots of damaged cells that no longer divide nor die off when they should. These “senescent” cells drive inflammation and fibrosis, and they inhibit nearby immune cells. As a result, tumors surrounded by fibrosis are harder to treat with immunotherapies that spur the immune system to attack cancer.