The future of cancer immunotherapy will come through mitochondria: Cancer cells hijack T cells
Cancer cells ‘poison’ the immune system with tainted mitochondria
A study reveals how cancer cells suppress immune responses by transferring mutated mitochondria to tumor-infiltrating T cells. Researchers identified mitochondrial DNA mutations in T cells that matched mutations in the cancer cells they infiltrated. This transfer impaired T cell metabolism and function, leading to senescence and a diminished ability to fight tumors.
The transfer occurs via tunneling nanotubes and extracellular vesicles, with cancer-derived mitochondria resisting normal degradation processes. These dysfunctional mitochondria disrupt T cell energy production, leaving the immune cells unable to mount effective antitumor responses.
The findings could explain why some patients fail to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors like PD-1 blockers. Targeting this mitochondrial transfer mechanism might open new doors for the future of cancer immunotherapy.
A dedicated workshop on mitochondrial transfer and its implications for cancer therapy will be organized at Targeting Mitochondria 2025.
For full Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00176-2
