There is an ongoing issue with prostate cancer and several other types of cancer, where cancer cells develop resistance to treatments over time. Despite this, the specific reasons behind these resistance mechanisms remain unclear. A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland has discovered that certain immune cells that promote inflammation, known as M1 macrophages, have the ability to convert cancer cells into stem-like cells, rendering them resistant to treatments. This research has been reported in the journal OncoImmunology.
There is a challenge related to prostate and many other cancers that cancer cells form resistance to treatments as the disease progresses. However, these resistance mechanisms are not yet fully understood. A new study by the University of Eastern Finland found that inflammation-promoting immune cells, M1 macrophages, can transform cancer cells into stem-like cells and thus immune to treatment. The results were published in OncoImmunology journal.
The research focused on how factors that promote inflammation within the tumor microenvironment influence the advancement of prostate cancer. The scientists particularly examined the roles of M1 and M2 macrophages in this environment. Generally, a high presence of macrophages in tumor regions signals a poor outlook for prostate cancer patients. The findings indicated that pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages enhance the stem cell characteristics of cancer cells and diminish their response to androgens.
“We discovered that pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages released substances that elevated the levels of stem cell markers such as NANOG, KLF4, SOX2, and CD44 in prostate cancer cells. Our study suggests that an inflammatory tumor microenvironment encourages the shift of prostate cancer cells towards a stem cell-like state, which is resistant to conventional therapies,” explained Doctoral Researcher Kirsi Kainulainen.
These findings provide insights into how the immune response impacts prostate cancer progression and treatment resistance. Understanding the influence of immune cells on the transformation potential of cancer cells may lead to new therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.
This research was conducted by Senior University Lecturer Sanna Pasonen-Seppänen and Research Director Kirsi Ketola at the University of Eastern Finland’s Institute of Biomedicine. The study received funding from various organizations, including the Academy of Finland, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the Cancer Foundation Finland, the North Savo Cancer Association, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Northern Savo Cultural Foundation, the Paavo Koistinen Foundation, and the Kuopio University Foundation.
