London: Remnants of ancient viruses in human DNA may help fight cancer, a study has foundY are
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in London studied lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to understand why immunotherapy is more effective in some patients than in others.
Research published in the journal Nature revealed that cancerous cells activate old dormant cells in the body. Which may incidentally help the immune system to fight against cancerous tumors.
According to scientists, thanks to this interesting discovery, people with lung cancer can be saved by improving treatment or protecting them from the disease.
Julian Downward, associate research and head of the institute’s Oncogene Biology Laboratory, said the research will offer several new opportunities to improve patient response to immunotherapy (a key step in saving lives for people with lung cancer).
By observing immune cell activity in mice with lung cancer and in human lung cancer tumor samples, the researchers found that antibody-producing white blood cells (called B cells) inhibit tumors. They play a role in improving the immune system against lung cancer by making antibodies.
Research has shown that these proteins are produced by ancient viral DNA that has passed down to modern humans thanks to infections in ancient humans.
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