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Javad Arabpour
Photo taken from Javad Arabpour/LinkedIn

Javad Arabpour: PD-L1’s Hidden Talent

Javad Arabpour, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“PD-L1’s Hidden Talent: Beyond Immune Evasion, A Guardian Against Ferroptosis.

The PD-1/PD-L1 axis has revolutionized cancer treatment, but the intrinsic functions of PD-L1 in cancer cells remain an intriguing puzzle.
A recent study by Feng et al. utilized a genome-wide CRISPR screen to uncover a novel role for PD-L1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells: regulating vulnerability to ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death.

Key takeaways:
PD-L1 KO cells are more susceptible to ferroptosis: The researchers found that PD-L1 deficiency sensitizes cancer cells to ferroptosis, both through direct induction and in the context of an immune-activated microenvironment.

The mechanism involves redox balance: PD-L1’s protective effect is linked to its ability to activate SOD2, a key antioxidant enzyme, thereby maintaining cellular redox homeostasis.

Clinical relevance: In HNSCC patient samples, higher PD-L1 expression correlated with lower levels of oxidative stress and ferroptosis markers, suggesting a potential role in treatment resistance.

Implications:
This study highlights the multifaceted nature of PD-L1, suggesting that targeting its intrinsic functions could be a powerful strategy to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.
By understanding how PD-L1 protects cancer cells from ferroptosis, we may be able to develop new therapeutic approaches to overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.

Exciting times ahead in cancer research.“
For more information.

Source: Javad Arabpour/LinkedIn

cancer CRISPR Elsevier ferroptosis HNSCC Javad Arabpour OncoDaily Oncology