Targeting MARCO improves melanoma cancer immunotherapy effectiveness

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered that targeting a protein called MARCO can improve cancer immunotherapy. Their study shows that blocking MARCO alongside anti-CTLA4 therapy leads to better tumor regression in melanoma. This approach increases the number of immune cells in tumors, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment. The findings suggest that targeting MARCO could help overcome resistance in "cold" tumors, which typically have fewer immune cells. The study indicates that combining MARCO-targeting with anti-CTLA4 therapy significantly boosts immune cell infiltration. This new strategy may offer better outcomes for melanoma patients and could be explored for other cancers as well.