A New Playbook for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment.

Head and neck cancers?affect over 65,000 Americans each year, with survival rates stubbornly low for patients with HPV-unrelated cancers. Research in the lab of the V Foundation grantee Dr. Sana Karam, Vice Chair of Translational Research, Marsico Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Cancer and Professor University of Colorado School of Medicine , targets a crucial but tricky signaling pair in these cancers: EphB4?and ephrinB2, which act like rival coaches giving opposing game plans. These mixed signals can either help contain the tumor or, worse, encourage it to spread.

To tackle this, the Karam lab used a precision tool called a fusion protein?- a custom-built molecule that acts like a smart lockpick. It targets only the problematic signals, blocking cancer-promoting activity while sparing healthy cells. The result? By blocking ephrinB2 in blood vessels, they strengthened the body’s natural barriers against cancer spread and supercharged the immune system. In preclinical models, Dr. Karam’s team found this led to both reduced local tumor growth and fewer lung metastases.

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For patients, this could mean a shift toward treatments that are more precise, with fewer side effects, and a stronger immune response - especially for those with aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers. Next steps include exploring these fusion proteins in clinical trials, aiming to bring new hope to patients facing limited options. I love this paper, fantastic work Dr. Karam and team!

Find the Karam lab at Karam Lab ?and read this incredible paper here https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-024-03208-9 ?.