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Fred Hutch study discovers how cancer evades immunotherapies

Researchers at Fred Hutch discovered that a form of skin cancer can turn off a specific gene, shielding the disease from immunotherapy treatment.
Dr. Kelly Paulson, the first author of the study. (Fred Hutch Photo)

Few advances in cancer treatment have gotten as much attention in the past decade as immunotherapies, therapies that use the immune system to fight the disease.

Various immunotherapies have wiped out disease in terminal patients and have largely enjoyed success as they emerge on the market. But despite those successes, many patients see their cancer return a few months or years after treatment.

In a new study published Monday, scientists unveiled a potential reason for these relapses. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discovered that relapsed Merkel cell carcinoma, a skin cancer, actually turns off a specific gene that lets T cells find and destroy the cancer, effectively shielding the disease from this immunotherapy treatment.

Read more at GeekWire.com.

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