A preliminary study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that blocking a signalling molecule called MEK could help tumour-fighting T cells last longer.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center report that T cells used in cancer immunotherapy often become exhausted, losing their ability to kill tumour cells over time. According to ScienceDaily, the team identified a signalling molecule called MEK that drives T cells to burn through their energy reserves while they produce cancer-killing proteins. This rapid energy use appears to contribute to the exhaustion that limits how long these cells remain effective.
In animal models and laboratory experiments, the scientists blocked MEK activity and observed that T cells kept functioning for longer, as described by the outlet.
The findings come from animal and laboratory studies, not from human trials, and this is the stage the research has reached according to ScienceDaily's report. The outlet does not state that the approach has been tested in patients, so its relevance to human cancer treatment is not yet established.
For clinicians and researchers following immunotherapy, this is an early mechanistic lead rather than a ready treatment strategy. It points to T-cell metabolism as a target worth watching, but anyone citing it should note the preclinical stage and wait for human data before drawing clinical conclusions.
Based on reporting by ScienceDaily
Cancer-fighting t cells burn out. Scientists may have found a fix, 2026-10-05. The Gufo links to the report and does not reproduce it.
