Researchers have made big strides in the battle against solid tumours, which make up 90 per cent of all cancer cases. 

A new study by experts at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre tested new immunotherapy treatments for these hard-to-treat cancers.

Professors Phil Darcy and Paul Beavis, along with Dr. Junyun Lai, have advanced the application of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy - originally used in blood cancers - to effectively target solid tumours. 

This treatment involves genetically modifying a patient's immune T-cells to better recognize and destroy cancer cells.

The team discovered a gene, FOXO1, that when stimulated, significantly boosts the CAR T-cells' ability to combat cancer. 

“Our research identified a gene called FOXO1 that can be stimulated to enhance CAR T-cell polyfunctionality, metabolic fitness, and efficacy against solid tumours,” explained Professor Darcy. 

“Essentially, it means the new T-cells can use multiple techniques to kill and destroy the cancer cells, are more effective in killing those cells and last longer in the body in a ‘memory state’.”

The study tested this new approach using models of ovarian, breast, and colon cancers. 

The results indicate that activating FOXO1 makes the CAR T-cells younger, more dynamic, and more capable of sustaining prolonged fights against cancer.

“No other study has looked at using factors to enhance the metabolic fitness of CAR T-cells,” said Associate Professor Beavis.

The research team says it will continue to explore this promising avenue.

The full study is accessible here.