Investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered new details about the role of a protein called interferon regulatory factor (IRF1) in cancer progression and treatment response, offering new insight that can potentially help improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. The study, published in Cell Reports , reveals how IRF1 can both hinder and help the body's immune response to tumors, depending upon which cells the protein is found in. We know IRF1 plays a pivotal role in modulating antiviral immunity.
But there were conflicting reports about whether IRF1 promotes or suppresses antitumor immunity. What was surprising to us was that the role of IRF1 was different depending upon which cells expressed it, potentially explaining the conflicting reports. Our findings add a layer of complexity to our understanding of IRF1 and its role in immunotherapy.
" Dr. Philip Scumpia, associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and senior author of the study Immunotherapy continues to be a powerful approach in cancer treatment. It works by harnessing the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
While immunotherapy has shown success in treating certain types of cancer and can lead to long-term remission in some patients, it still does not work for everyone. Understanding the mechanisms of proteins like IRF1 can help refine immunotherapy strategies, making them more effective for a broader range of pat.
