Yan Leyfman, Co-founder and executive director of MedNews Week, shared an article by Joanna Domagala, et al. on LinkedIn:
“Ammonia: A Hidden Obstacle in Cancer Immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, but the tumor microenvironment remains a major challenge. This study reveals that ammonia, a by-product of cancer cell metabolism, suppresses NK and T cell function, reducing the effectiveness of CAR-NK and CAR-T therapies.
Key Findings:
- Ammonia weakens NK and T cells, impairing their ability to kill cancer cells.
- It disrupts perforin maturation, a key weapon for immune cells.
- By increasing pH in lysosomes, ammonia hampers immune response.
These insights highlight a new mechanism of tumor immune escape, paving the way for future strategies to overcome ammonia’s effects in cancer treatment.”
Ammonia Suppresses the Antitumor Activity of Natural Killer Cells and T Cells by Decreasing Mature Perforin.
Authors: Joanna Domagala, et al.
