BioCentury
ARTICLE | Preclinical News

Researchers identify second macrophage inhibitory pathway as target for cancer immunotherapy

November 29, 2017 1:29 AM UTC

In a study published in Nature Immunology, researchers at Stanford University and colleagues found blocking major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) or leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B1 (LILRB1) promoted phagocytosis of tumor cells, suggesting the pathway as a target to treat cancer.

CD47 and its receptor signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPA; CD172a; SHPS-1) are known regulators of phagocytosis, and blocking CD47 or SIRPA enables macrophages to attack cancer cells. Lead author Irving Weissman and colleagues recently identified a mAb that could target SIRPA to augment tumor killing when paired with a tumor-opsonizing antibody, in a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 21)...