A study published in the journal Cell, has revealed that the Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitor drug, which is currently in clinical trials, could help the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

The research, carried out by Cancer Research UK scientists, revealed that the protein Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), which is usually used by healthy cells to grow and move around, is used by cancer cells to protect themselves from the immune system. In other words, the protein enables the cancer cells to go undetected by the immune system. The FAK inhibitor drug could prevent this and help the immune system to recognise cancer cells as a threat and fight them.

Dr Alan Serrels, one of the lead authors, at the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The drug in this study is already in early stage clinical trials and could potentially be an excellent complement to existing immunotherapy treatments. Because it works within tumour cells rather than influencing the immune cells directly, it could offer a way to reduce the side effects of treatments that harness the power of the immune system against cancer.”

Nell Barrie, senior science communications manager at Cancer Research UK, added: “Research to maximise the power of the immune system is a really exciting area that Cancer Research UK scientists are exploring in detail. This particular approach hasn’t yet been tested in people, but there are plans to now find out how it could benefit patients alongside other immunotherapy treatments.”