University of California researchers identify protein activation to boost T cell cancer fighting

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have identified a strategy to strengthen immune cells used in cancer immunotherapy. According to a study published in Frontiers in Immunology, the temporary activation of the p53 protein can help T cells maintain their effectiveness for longer periods.

Using the experimental drug Navtemadlin, scientists were able to increase p53 activity, which helps prevent T cell exhaustion. In laboratory tests involving melanoma cells, treated T cells showed higher energy reserves, greater capacity for proliferation, and a reduced tendency to lose their ability to attack tumors after repeated exposure.

This discovery suggests that adding a drug during the preparation of genetically modified immune cells could enhance existing therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy, without requiring additional genetic modifications.