Researchers advance immunotherapy for colorectal and liver cancers

Researchers have reported significant advancements in cancer immunotherapy targeting colorectal and liver cancers.

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed peptide microdrops designed to deliver gene-silencing molecules to both cancer and immune cells. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA), this method interrupts the production of two proteins that colorectal cancer cells use to evade the immune system. In mouse studies, this approach reduced the growth of difficult-to-treat colorectal tumors by approximately 67%.

In a separate development, researchers from CONICET, the Universidad Austral, and other institutions identified the SMYD2 protein as a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer. The study, published in Molecular Therapy Oncology, found that inhibiting SMYD2 reduces tumor growth and modifies the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune response. When combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, the inhibition of SMYD2 produced a greater antitumor response than either treatment alone. This could potentially help patients with HCC who currently show resistance to standard immunotherapies.