Scientists Eradicate Liver Tumors in Mice by Inhibiting Key Immune Regulator

A protein long known for stimulating red blood cell production has now been discovered to play a surprising and crucial role in suppressing the immune system’s attack on cancer. Researchers found that blocking this protein’s activity transforms previously “cold” liver tumors—those resistant to immune responses—into “hot” tumors filled with active cancer-fighting immune cells.

In experiments with mice, combining this protein blockade with immunotherapy, which further boosts immune cell activity, led to the complete disappearance of existing liver tumors in most cases. The treated mice survived throughout the study period, while untreated control mice lived only a few weeks.

“This finding fundamentally changes how we understand the immune system’s ability to switch on and off in cancer,” said Edgar Engleman, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and medicine and senior author of the study. “I’m incredibly excited about this breakthrough and hopeful that therapies targeting this mechanism will soon advance to human clinical trials.”

The research, published online on April 24 in Science, highlights a promising new approach to cancer treatment by reactivating the body’s natural defenses. Lead author David Kung-Chun Chiu, PhD, contributed significantly to this work, which could pave the way for innovative therapies against immune-resistant tumors like liver cancer.

SOURCE: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/04/epo-tumors.html 

CREDITS: STANFORD MEDICINE