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Blocking surprising master regulator of immunity eradicates liver tumors in mice


“Cold” tumors are resistant to common immunotherapies. Stanford Medicine researchers have uncovered a master regulator that can be manipulated to prevent tumor growth in mice.

A protein identified nearly 40 years ago for its ability to stimulate the production of red blood cells plays a surprising, critical role in dampening the immune system’s response to cancer. “Research from more than a decade ago has shown that giving EPO to cancer patients with anemia to stimulate red blood cell formation accelerates the growth of the tumor,” Engleman said. Curious, the researchers turned to existing databases to confirm that elevated levels of EPO are correlated with poorer survival of people with cancers of the liver, kidney, breast, colon and skin.

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