Immunotherapy aims to turn the body’s immune system into an ally in the fight against cancer. One way that can happen is by stimulating T cells to identify and kill unwanted tumor cells. Unfortunately, it’s not successful in every patient, as tumors can become resistant to the T cells’ attacks. The mechanisms behind this resistance are varied, and new ones continue to be uncovered. But the secret to overcoming some of them might already be in medicine cabinets everywhere: antihistamines.
A paper published today (November 24) in Cancer Cell reports that high levels of histamine—best known for being released in response to allergens—and one of its receptors are associated with tumor resistance to immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with a range of cancer types. In tumor cells, immune checkpoints are proteins expressed to evade surveillance; by inhibiting them, checkpoint therapy boosts antitumor defenses. The study also shows ...
