A study by Massachusetts General Hospital has identified a previously unknown immune system mechanism underlying breast cancer prevention, creating potential for future immunotherapy.
The study found T helper 2 cells (Th2)—a type of regulatory immune cell—can “directly block spontaneous breast carcinogenesis [from becoming cancerous]” by regulating cancers cell to become unable to differentiate, according to lead author Dr. Shawn Demehri.
Though previous research showed that Th2 took part in cancer growth and proliferation rather than prevention, Demehri’s 2016 work showed that a specific messenger molecule in the immune system, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is able to activate Th2 attack against breast cancer cells….