Future Transformative Impact of Argentine Cancer Treatment Discovery
Last week, our site broke a major story in the world of oncology – a team of Argentine scientists, headed by Dr. Gabriel Rabinovich and including Dr. Ada Blidner, a biologist and CONICET researcher, have unlocked a mystery that could shake up the cancer realm. In a groundbreaking study, published in the prestigious journal Immunity, they've revealed how certain immune cells, designed to protect our bodies, can instead aid tumor growth and proliferation.
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During an interview on our site with host Gonzalo Sánchez, Carolina Amoroso, Ramón Indart, and Cecilia Boufflet, Dr. Blidner explained the key player in this revelation – a protein called galectin-1. This protein, which Dr. Rabinovich has been studying for years, can bind to myeloid suppressor cells in patients, effectively sabotaging traditional oncology treatments by causing them to become collaborators of the tumor. Galectin-1 also sticks to sugars surrounding immune system cells, making them more immunosuppressive and facilitating tumor growth by providing more blood vessels and promoting metastasis.
Intriguingly, the team discovered this mechanism in patients by analyzing genetic data from an international repository of thousands of tumors. They noticed that patients whose tumors had higher levels of galectin-1 also had more "complicit" cells, leading to faster tumor growth. So, what did they do? They hypothesized that blocking galectin-1's activity could reverse this complicity and restore the immune system's defensive capacity. "We blocked galectin-1 in experimental models and saw that the tumor grew less," Blidner shared, emphasizing the potential of this tool for future cancer treatments.
This research has the backing of a biotechnology startup called Galtec, a spin-off from CONICET that focuses on optimizing the molecule for future clinical trials. Dr. Blidner emphasized the importance of collaboration between fundamental and applied science, explaining that many once-un thought-of possibilities have ended up leading to concrete therapies.
The interview also touched on the financial challenges faced by research in Argentina. Dr. Blidner acknowledged that while the lab has had some success in securing both local and international funding, difficulties arise due to themismanagement of public financing. Blidner warned that such conditions could hamper the scientists' ability to keep conducting experiments, publishing findings, and ensuring the team's continuity and knowledge generation.
Dr. Blidner also addressed the pervasive issue of misinformation in health matters, encouraging the sharing of trustworthy content that complements conventional treatment but urging caution against replacing proven therapies with treatments that lack scientific evidence. She compared combating cancer to other similarly complex challenges in science and thanked those who support cancer research in Argentina.
Our site offers live coverage every day on YouTube, featuring interviews, analysis, and the latest developments. Tune in to our YouTube channel @infobae to catch the full conversation with Dr. Ada Blidner and stay informed.
On a related note, researchers are discovering more about how the brain reacts to rhythmic stimuli, while astronomers have found a volcano on Mars, reshaping our understanding of the planet's geological evolution. In another exciting development, astronomers have captured for the first time the moment a planet emerged from a star!
Sports enthusiasts might appreciate the development of a potential new treatment for cancer, as researchers have discovered a protein called galectin-1 that can bind to myeloid suppressor cells in patients, sabotaging traditional oncology treatments and aiding tumor growth and proliferation. This finding, made by a team of Argentine scientists, could revolutionize the field of health and wellness, particularly in the medical-conditions realm centered on cancer.
In an effort to reverse this complicity and restore the immune system's defensive capacity, the researchers hypothesized that blocking galectin-1's activity could halt tumor growth. This innovative approach, with backing from biotechnology startup Galtec, could pave the way for future cancer treatments, demonstrating how collaboration between fundamental and applied science can lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
