Gerry Manacsa [creativecommons license] via Wikimedia CommonsEven when surrounded by immune cells, tumors often continue to grow. Their rapid growth consumes oxygen, leading to hypoxia in the surrounding area or tumor microenvironment. Hypoxia further promotes tumor growth by encouraging the release of adenosine, which prevents immune cells from entering the tumor microenvironment. Reducing this immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment could free immune cells to attack tumors, boosting the efficacy of immune-based strategies for treating cancer. Now, a research group led by Michail Sitkovsky (Northeastern University, Boston, MA) has shown how this can be accomplished.
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