A new approach to overcoming melanoma resistance
We’re very happy to share an update with you on one of the projects we’re funding. This one is led by Prof. Rescigno at Perugia University. The study will soon include other centers that are part of the Italian Melanoma Intergroup.
Some cancer treatments work by helping the immune system find and attack cancer cells. One important treatment for skin cancer (metastatic melanoma) uses a type of antibody called anti-PD1. It works well for many patients, but not for everyone. Some people’s immune systems still can’t “see” the cancer cells.
One reason for this is that cancer cells sometimes hide by not showing a certain kind of signal on their surface. These signals are called HLA class I molecules. They act like little flags that tell immune cells, “I’m dangerous, destroy me.” Without these flags, the immune system doesn’t know which cells to attack—even with help from anti-PD1.
Surprisingly, the microbiota (the good bacteria living in your gut) can affect how the immune system works. In a previous research project funded by the Alan Ghitis Association, scientists found that some gut bacteria—specifically, a strain called Lactobacillus paracasei—produce substances (called postbiotics) that help bring back those missing HLA flags on cancer cells. This makes the cancer visible again to the immune system.
Now, the Alan Ghitis Association is co-funding a new clinical trial to test this idea in real patients with melanoma who haven’t responded to immunotherapy. The study, approved by the University of Perugia’s Ethics Committee, combines anti-PD1 treatment with postbiotics to see if this combo can help the immune system find and fight cancer cells again.
We’ve already started the trial and enrolled our first patient!
Goal: See if postbiotics help restore the HLA “flags” and improve patients’ response to treatment.
Patients: 36 people with melanoma will take part.
Groups:
This study could give new hope to patients who haven’t responded to existing treatments.
Thanks to everyone supporting the Alan Ghitis Association, we’re closer to making cancer treatments work better for more people.