TAU Study Shows Tumors Reprogram Immune Cells

Tel Aviv University reported July 2 that researchers at its Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences developed Effero-seq, a tracking technology that shows how tumors can turn macrophages after they consume dead cancer cells. The TAU team, led by Dr. Merav Cohen with doctoral students Roi Balaban and Ori Moskowitz, found the reprogrammed immune cells help form blood vessels that nourish tumors and become less responsive to anti-cancer signals. JNS, Xinhua and AZERTAC say the Science Immunology study also linked the signature in uveal melanoma patients to lower survival. Israeli medicine keeps turning basic science into possible therapies for patients worldwide.