A new paper published in the November issue of the journal Science, notes that a special type of stromal cell found in many cancers expresses fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP), and plays a major role in suppressing the immune response in cancerous tumors.
More importantly, the scientists have reported that if they destroy these cells in a tumor, immune suppression is relieved, allowing the immune system to control the previously uncontrolled tumor.
Stromal cells make up the connective tissue orientation of an organ or gland as distinguished from the tissues performing the special function of the organ. They consist of an assortment of cell types, including but not limited to macrophages, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and T-lymphocytes. Douglas Fearon, professor of immunology of the department of medicine at the University of Cambridge, suggests that finding the specific cells that prevent the immune system from attacking tumors is essential to combating cancer.
In the past, so-called cancer vaccines have been able to prompt the immune system to activate an immune response in the body, but the drugs have failed to aid in preventing the growth of tumors. The specific cells examined in this study expressed a unique protein associated with wound healing — fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP). These FAP-expressing cells are found in many cancers, including breast and colorectal cancers. Although these processes were studied in rats, the findings indicate that when FAP-expressing cells were destroyed in tumors in mice with established cancer, the cancer began to rapidly die. –torrance stephens, ph.d.
