Researchers have discovered how the body’s own immune system can unintentionally help cancer grow.
Neutrophils are white blood cells that normally fight infection. But the study shows that tumors can “reprogram” these cells. Instead of attacking cancer, the altered neutrophils begin producing a molecule called CCL3. This molecule acts like a growth signal, helping tumors expand. When researchers blocked CCL3 production in neutrophils, tumor growth slowed significantly.
Studying neutrophils is challenging because they are short-lived and fragile. The research team developed new methods to target the CCL3 gene specifically in neutrophils without affecting other immune cells. They also used advanced data analysis tools to show that this CCL3 production happens in many different types of cancer.
The findings suggest that tracking CCL3 levels or neutrophil behavior could help doctors better predict how cancer will progress and personalize treatment. Published in Cancer Cell, the study highlights that even in complex diseases like cancer, a small number of key factors may strongly influence tumor growth.