Washington: Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered that pancreatic cancer cells hijack blood-clotting mechanisms to block immune attacks, according to Medical Xpress.
The study shows that certain cancer cells produce proteins triggering a build-up of fibrin, the body's wound-healing substance, around the tumor. This creates a barrier against immune cells, with even a small number of cancer cells sufficient to shield the entire tumor.
Preclinical trials revealed that disrupting this fibrin barrier or blocking its interactions slowed tumor growth and significantly boosted immunotherapy effectiveness, opening new avenues for targeted cancer treatments.
