Innovative Drug Enhances Immune Attack on Liver Cancer by Targeting Fat Metabolism

Researchers at McMaster University, in collaboration with Espervita Therapeutics, have developed a promising new treatment aimed at combating liver cancer, particularly in patients with fatty liver disease. Liver cancer cells are known to rely heavily on fat metabolism for their growth and survival, contributing to poor prognosis for millions worldwide. The new therapy centers around inhibiting an enzyme called ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), which plays a crucial role in converting sugars into fats within the tumor environment.

The drug, designated EVT0185, selectively targets ACLY in the liver. When tested in mice models afflicted with metabolic dysfunction and liver cancer, EVT0185 effectively reduced tumor size and made cancer cells more susceptible to immune system attack. Surprisingly, the enhanced immune response was driven not by the well-understood T cells but by B cells, a type of immune cell less commonly associated with tumor destruction.

This groundbreaking study, published in Nature, reveals a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy by modulating tumor metabolism. The findings suggest that blocking metabolic pathways in tumors can potentiate the body's natural defenses, opening avenues for more effective treatments, especially for cases resistant to conventional therapies.

Liver cancer, often linked to metabolic conditions like fatty liver disease (MASLD) and its severe form MASH, remains a significant health challenge. Currently, survival rates are dismally low, with fewer than 20% of patients living beyond five years. The ability of EVT0185 to inhibit tumor growth and activate B cell-mediated immunity offers hope for new therapeutic strategies.

While these results are promising, further research is required to understand how ACLY inhibition enhances immune responses and whether similar effects can be observed in humans and other cancer types. This innovative approach marks a significant step toward tailored treatments that target the metabolic vulnerabilities of tumors and harness the immune system more effectively.