When immune cells stop fighting cancer and start helping it
- Scientists have uncovered a surprising way tumors turn the immune system to their advantage. Researchers at the University of Geneva found that neutrophils—normally frontline defenders against infection—can be reprogrammed inside tumors to fuel cancer growth instead. Once exposed to the tumor environment, these immune cells begin producing a molecule called CCL3 that actively promotes tumor progression.
Researchers discovered that tumors can reprogram neutrophils, turning these immune cells into cancer allies. Credit: Shutterstock Understanding how tumors grow and spread remains one of the biggest challenges in cancer research. Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), working with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, have identified a surprising factor that may help explain why some cancers progress more aggressively. Their research shows that neutrophils, a common type of immune cell, can be altered by the tumor environment in ways that actually support cancer growth instead of stopping it. Once exposed to the tumor ecosystem, these immune cells begin producing a molecule known as the chemokine CCL3. Rather than helping the body fight disease, CCL3 encourages tumors to grow. Because this process appears across many cancer types, it may serve as a useful signal for tracking disease progression. The findings were published in the journal Cancer Cell.
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