Reactivating the Body’s Natural Defenders: A New Hope for Fighting Cholangiocarcinoma
We are excited to share that our latest research on boosting the immune system’s ability to fight cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) has been accepted for publication in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (Impact Factor: 6.9)! 🎉
This study, led by researchers at the Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology (SiSP) and our collaborators, explores a promising new strategy to restore immune function in a particularly aggressive form of cancer.
The Challenge: Why is Cholangiocarcinoma So Hard to Treat?
Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but deadly cancer that forms in the bile ducts. Because it grows silently and is often diagnosed at a late stage, treatment options are limited. Standard chemotherapy only works for a short time, and the cancer often finds ways to resist treatment. Scientists have been looking for new ways to help the body’s immune system fight this disease, but so far, success has been limited.
A Hidden Army: The Role of iNKT Cells in Cancer Defense
One promising approach involves a special type of immune cell called invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells. These cells act as the body’s frontline soldiers, capable of detecting and attacking cancer cells. However, in cholangiocarcinoma, tumors can disable iNKT cells, making them ineffective. This allows the cancer to grow unchecked.
Our research aimed to find a way to “wake up” these iNKT cells and restore their cancer-fighting power.
The Breakthrough: How Vorinostat Helps Reactivate iNKT Cells
We used a drug called Vorinostat, a type of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, to test whether we could reverse iNKT cell dysfunction. Vorinostat is already approved for treating some types of blood cancer, but we discovered that it has an unexpected ability to help iNKT cells recover their strength against cholangiocarcinoma.
In our study, we found that:
✅ Vorinostat reprograms cancer cells, making them easier for iNKT cells to detect.
✅ It boosts the release of immune-activating signals, making iNKT cells more effective.
✅ When combined with iNKT cells, Vorinostat significantly slowed tumor growth in laboratory models.
A Special Congratulations to Su Su!
This study would not have been possible without the incredible dedication and perseverance of our first author, Khin Su Su Htwe (Su Su), from Myanmar.
After defending her PhD thesis, Su Su stayed on for an additional year, working tirelessly to refine this research and submit it to multiple journals. Her persistence, hard work, and commitment to scientific excellence have now been rewarded with its acceptance in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (Impact Factor: 6.9).
Su Su’s journey is a true testament to the spirit of resilience and dedication in scientific research, and we are incredibly proud of her achievement! 🎉👏
What This Means for the Future
These findings open exciting new possibilities for immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma. While more research is needed before this approach can be tested in patients, our study lays the groundwork for future treatments that harness the body’s own defenses to fight cancer.
At SiSP, we are committed to developing innovative strategies to make precision medicine a reality for patients facing difficult-to-treat cancers. This research brings us one step closer to more effective, less toxic treatments that work with the immune system rather than against it.
