Researchers uncover how ovarian tumors weaken T cells by disrupting energy processing

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have found that ovarian tumors hinder T cells by disrupting their energy processing. This discovery reveals that T cells cannot access fats in the tumor environment, limiting their ability to fight cancer. The study identified that a protein called FABP5, essential for fat uptake, fails to reach the T cell surface due to the tumor's hostile conditions. This is linked to another protein, transgelin 2, which is suppressed in the tumor environment, preventing effective energy production. These findings could lead to improved cancer immunotherapies. By enhancing checkpoint inhibitors and developing modified CAR T cells that resist tumor suppression, researchers aim to boost the effectiveness of treatments against ovarian cancer.