Lyon researchers identify cells responsible for certain cancers

These French researchers have established a link between inflammatory cells and the formation of cancer cells. They have also found possible treatment options.

This is an additional discovery in the understanding of the formation of cancerous tumors. Researchers from Lyon have identified cells linked to certain colorectal, small intestine, liver and pancreatic cancers. Their work has just been published in the American scientific journal Nature.

TH17 lymphocytes, the body’s natural defense cells, were already known, but the Lyon researchers discovered that they were divided into eight subgroups, each of which has a distinct role. One of them causes the formation of tumors, particularly in the intestinal area. “These cells will create a chronic inflammatory environment, that is to say, permanent inflammation.”explains Dr Julien Marie, immunologist at Inserm, who carried out this work.

“Healthy cells that are found around – for example, cells in the intestine – will have damage to their DNA. Behind this, cancer will appear.” In this case, colorectal, small intestine, liver or pancreatic cancer.

The good news is that Julien Marie’s team has also identified a protein that blocks these cells: a cytokine, already present in the body. The researchers are already imagining that it could be administered in addition, in the form of tablets or capsules, as a preventative measure or at the very beginning of cancer. This treatment could particularly concern people at risk, such as patients already suffering from Crohn’s disease, liver cirrhosis or pancreatitis.

Oncologist and president of Unicancer Jean-Yves Blay, “very proud of these French discoveries”emphasizes that in fact they will “to enable prevention strategies to be opened to avoid the development of these cells which do not function as we would like” And “open the door to original therapeutic approaches to preventing the development of cancers.”