- Scientists at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute have made the unexpected discovery that common steroid creams can shrink melanoma tumours.
- The research indicates that steroids achieve this by blocking a protein called Garp, which typically allows cancer cells to evade the immune system.
- This mechanism activates the body's own immune defences to target and destroy cancerous cells, despite steroids usually being immunosuppressive.
- Analysis of over 2,000 patient data sets and tumour samples showed that patients whose tumours responded to steroids lived longer, while high Garp levels correlated with poorer survival.
- Experts believe this finding could lead to new therapeutic targets for melanoma and potentially other cancers, with treatments targeting Garp currently in development and clinical trials planned.
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