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Study by Indian researchers finds that body’s immune cells ‘betray’ it to help breast cancer spread

admin — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:05:00 +0000

Many mechanisms involved in breast cancer metastasis focus on tumour cell activities. Image used for representational purposes only
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

A growing body of research is reshaping how scientists understand breast cancer—not just as a disease of rogue tumour cells, but as one that cleverly recruits the body’s own immune system to survive and spread.

A new review by researchers from two Indian universities explains how macrophages, a type of white blood cell meant to protect the body at sites of infection, can be “reprogrammed” by breast tumours to aid cancer growth and metastasis.

The authors of the review are Alisha Sinha of the Jaipur-based Banasthali University’s Department of Biotechnology, and Pranay Punk Pankaj and Ranjit Kumar of Nagaland University’s Department of Zoology. Their review was published in the Breast Global Journal.

Breast cancer, the most common cancer and the leading cause of death in women worldwide, accounts for almost 15% of cancer deaths in women, either due to metastasis or its drug-resistant nature. Many mechanisms involved in breast cancer metastasis focus on tumour cell activities. Macrophages normally act as the body’s clean-up crew, destroying harmful cells through phagocytosis, a process in which unwanted cells are engulfed and digested. However, within breast tumours, these cells often change their behaviour and become tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs)—immune cells that now work in favour of the cancer rather than against it.

What the study found

The study explains that macrophages can exist in different “moods” or states. One form, the M1 macrophages, attacks tumours and triggers inflammation to destroy abnormal cells. Another form, the M2 macrophages, focuses on tissue repair and calming inflammation. Breast cancer cells push macrophages towards this M2 state, which unintentionally helps tumours grow, spread, and hide from the immune system.

Once converted, these M2-type macrophages help tumours in several ways. They release chemical messengers called cytokines (small proteins that allow cells to communicate) that encourage the formation of new blood vessels—a process known as angiogenesis. These blood vessels supply tumours with oxygen and nutrients, allowing them to expand rapidly.

The macrophages also weaken the body’s defences. They suppress T cells, immune cells that would otherwise recognise and kill cancer cells. In addition, tumour cells display “don’t eat me” signals on their surface, preventing macrophages from destroying them and allowing cancer cells to survive unchecked.

Another critical role played by these altered immune cells is in reshaping the extracellular matrix—the supportive tissue surrounding cells. By breaking down this structure, macrophages make it easier for cancer cells to escape the breast and travel to distant organs such as the lungs or bones, a process known as metastasis.

What next

The authors highlighted that this ‘dangerous partnership’ between tumours and macrophages forms a self-reinforcing cycle: larger tumours attract more macrophages, which further accelerate tumour growth and spread.

Understanding this relationship could open new treatment options. Instead of targeting cancer cells alone, future therapies may aim to re-educate macrophages, switching them back into their tumour-fighting mode or blocking signals that turn them into cancer allies.

Ms. Sinha said checking the “betrayal” of immune cells could be key to slowing breast cancer progression and improving long-term survival.

“The downregulation or reprogramming of M2 macrophage differentiation could emerge as a viable strategy for reducing breast cancer progression and metastasis. Such approaches may support the development of targeted immunotherapies that complement existing treatment modalities, offering more precise and less toxic options for patients,” Prof. Kumar said.

Published – February 05, 2026 07:35 pm IST

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AIIMS, Delhi developing low cost adaptive cellular therapy for treatment of multiple myeloma

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:55:10 +0000

(CAR) T-cell therapy is a form of adaptive cellular therapy in which a patient’s T cells are isolated, genetically modified and infused back in the patients body to recognise and kill cancer cells. Photograph used for representational purposes only
| Photo Credit: Freepik

Doctors at AIIMS, Delhi are in the process of developing a low cost antibody-based adaptive cellular therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.

This kind of therapy is expected to make advanced treatments like CAR-T cell therapies more affordable and accessible for patients in India.

The Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a form of adaptive cellular therapy in which a patient’s T cells are isolated, genetically modified and infused back in the patients body to recognise and kill cancer cells, said Mayank Singh, Additional Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, (BRAIRCH), AIIMS.

It is based on targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) which helps to target specific tumour antigens which are found cancer cells especially in cases multiple myeloma. “So the therapy developed by the AIIMS researchers recognises BCMA as a target on multiple myeloma cells to eliminate them,” Dr. Singh said.

As of now, the therapy has been tested on animal models and has shown promising outcomes, he said.

“We intend to take this CAR-T cell therapy for phase-1 clinical trials on humans in the near future to collect substantial evidence regarding its safety and efficacy. Our aim is to bring the cost of this therapy significantly down. There are other forms of CAR-T cell therapies, but the cost of these are very high,” he said.

How do cancerous cells operate?

Cancer is characterised by the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells. Generally, all cancer cells are derived from a single cell which has undergone a sequence of mutations that has converted it into a cancerous cell and these cancerous cells are involved in different symptoms associated with cancer, Dr. Singh explained.

Cancer cells proliferate at a very rapid pace which deprive normal cells of nutrients resulting in cancer associated cachexia.

What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a form cancer of the plasma cells which are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that produces antibodies against infection. When these cells become cancerous, they multiply at a rapid pace and crowd out normal blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. This form of cancer is often associated with relapses, Dr. Singh said.

Traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy/radiotherapy target rapidly-dividing cells but this approach leads to cytotoxicity in normal cells as well as leading to severe side effects associated with cancer treatment.

The past two decades have seen the emergence of targeted therapies in cancer associated with targeting inherent vulnerabilities of cancer cells like too much dependence on one protein for cancer cells which has improved outcome in cancer treatments. However, cancer cells eventually develop resistance to these agents which leads to cancer relapses, he elaborated.

The past decade has also seen the emergence of immunotherapy as one of the cornerstones of cancer therapeutics with monoclonal antibodies being used to target cancer cells.

In a classical approach often these antibodies against a cancer target are loaded with the drug of interest for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs, thereby reducing the off-target effect and improving their effectiveness, Dr. Singh said.

“Antibody based therapies have ushered a new era in cancer therapeutics including development of cellular CAR-T cell therapies which include components of these antibodies to target the antigen on the cancerous cell. Immunotherapies however remain expensive thereby being out of reach for majority of the population in countries like India,” he explained.

One in nine in India likely to get cancer in their lifetime

According to latest data from the National Cancer Registry, the estimated number of incident cases of cancer in India in 2022 was found to be 14,61,427. Furthermore, one in nine people are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime.

The problem of delayed diagnosis combined with limited access to world-class therapies is bound to create a significate health burden on India as cases are expected to rise exponentially in coming decade, Dr. Singh said.

The research group spearheaded by Dr. Singh has filed for an Indian patent for the antibody and is in process of filing a patent for their CAR-T cell therapy.

“CAR-T cell therapies has changed the way we approach and treat cancer. Development of CAR-T cell therapy has been in a nascent state in India despite the rapid pace at which it is moving around the world,” he said.

Published – December 23, 2024 04:25 pm IST

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