Researchers have found that making cancer cells stiffer can enhance the effectiveness of car t-cell therapy against aggressive tumors. In experiments with mice, the approach led to complete tumor disappearance in some cases. The findings were presented recently at a conference in London.
Cancer cells are often softer than healthy ones due to higher cholesterol levels in their membranes. This softness may help them evade immune attacks. Scientists at the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne tested whether stiffening these cells could improve immunotherapy outcomes.