A new approach that reprograms the internal energy systems of immune cells has reduced tumor growth by approximately 75 percent in animal models, offering a potential path to making cancer immunotherapies more durable and effective. The research focuses on helping the body’s T cells sustain their attack on cancer rather than burning out inside tumors.
Published in the British Journal of Cancer, the study was led by Elitsa Ananieva, PhD, a professor of biochemistry and nutrition at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences. The research demonstrates that altering the internal metabolism of T cells, the immune system’s primary cancer fighters, can significantly improve their ability to function within the tumor microenvironment. In mouse models, this metabolic reprogramming reduced tumor growth by roughly three quarters. “T cells are remarkably powerful, but when they enter the tumor microenvironment, they often become exhausted and lose the energy needed to continue fighting,” Ananieva said. “Our research focuses on helping these cells maintain their function so they can remain effective for longer periods of time.”
The findings have direct relevance for CAR T-cell therapy, a treatment that involves collecting a patient’s immune cells, engineering them in a lab to target cancer, and infusing them back into the body. While many current strategies focus on altering molecules on the surface of T cells, this study targets the cells’ internal programming to improve energy production and long-term performance. “By helping T cells sustain their metabolic activity, we may be able to improve their ability to survive, persist and continue attacking cancer,” Ananieva said. The work was supported by funding from the university’s Elsie Lee Cancer Research Fund and the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.
From Lab Bench to Patient Bedside
The research is already moving beyond the laboratory. Ananieva is collaborating with pharmaceutical industry partners who are applying the study’s findings to human immune cells, a critical step toward potential clinical applications. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see that such hard, focused work can lead to outcomes that may one day serve as a foundation for improving cancer treatment,” she said. The study also provided research opportunities for more than 50 medical and graduate students over the past decade, many of whom have gone on to careers in medicine and oncology.
Pravin Mishra, PhD, MBA, chief research officer at Des Moines University, called the work “a great example of how discovery-driven research can improve human health.” He added, “The potential to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy is significant, and it’s especially exciting to see this work progressing from the laboratory toward applications that could one day benefit patients.” As metabolic research continues to reshape cancer treatment, this study highlights how understanding the inner workings of immune cells could lead to longer lasting, more powerful therapies for patients.