Northwestern Medicine researchers have discovered a "two-faced" group of cells at work in human colon cancer, with opposing functions that can suppress or promote tumor growth. These cells are a subset of T-regulatory (Treg) cells, known to suppress immune responses in healthy individuals. In this previously unknown Treg subset, the presence of the protein RORγt has been shown to differentiate between cancer-protecting and cancer-promoting properties. The Northwestern team, led by Khashayarsha Khazaie, recently reported their findings in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Read more here.
Study mentioned: Blatner NR, et al. Expression of RORγt Marks a Pathogenic Regulatory T Cell Subset in Human Colon Cancer. Sci Transl Med. 2012. 4:164ra159. Online first.
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