Researchers from the University have identified why some people may become resistant to monoclonal antibodies, a common type of immunotherapy used in lymphoma treatment.
Encouragingly, in early studies they have demonstrated that adding an immune response stimulating drug called a ‘STING agonist’ could overcome drug-resistance in this type of blood cancer.
Results from the study, which was funded by the charities Bloodwise and Cancer Research UK, are published in the Cancer Research journal.
The monoclonal antibody rituximab has improved survival rates for many types of lymphoma, but not all patients respond and many will relapse. Researchers in Southampton have been studying how rituximab works and how to overcome resistance. They showed that rituximab works by stimulating specific white blood cells called macrophages, to engulf and ‘eat’ the lymphoma cells.
However, some lymphomas are able to suppress the macrophages by manipulating proteins called Fc-gamma receptors found on their surface to prevent engulfment. The findings help to explain why rituximab can be ineffective in some lymphoma patients.
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