Scientists identify new target for melanoma immunotherapy

Source: Medical Xpress, June 2020

QIMR Berghofer research has found a new reason why some melanoma patients do not respond well to immunotherapy—a discovery that could lead to better-tailored treatments for the potentially deadly cancer.

Australia has the highest rate of melanoma in the world. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates there were more than 15,000 cases of melanoma in Australia last year, and more than 1700 deaths.

The research, led by QIMR Berghofer Senior Scientist and Immunology Department Coordinator Professor Mark Smyth, found high levels of the protein CD155 in human melanoma cells made the skin cancer harder to treat with immunotherapy.

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