Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Cancer

Natural-born killers unleashed

Nature volume 510, pages 342–343 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

The finding that phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase δ restrains the antitumour immune response by promoting the action of suppressive immune cells may broaden the applicability of drugs targeting this enzyme to multiple cancers. See Letter p.407

Cancer cells carry mutations that lead to the production of tumour-associated antigen molecules, against which the immune system can react. In principle, this response allows the elimination of cells that have undergone cancer-causing changes. But tumours often escape this action by tweaking immune reactions and by promoting activities usually associated with the resolution of these responses. Typically, this involves the cancer cells influencing immune cells that have a regulatory function, such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. On page 407 of this issue, Ali et al.1 report that, to escape the immune response, tumours require the action of the intracellular enzyme phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase δ. They also demonstrate that inhibiting this enzyme unleashes the suppressive activity of immune-regulatory cells, thus strengthening the anticancer immune response.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Inhibition of PI(3)Kδ releases immune suppression.

References

  1. Ali, K. et al. Nature 510, 407–411 (2014).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Vanhaesebroeck, B., Guillermet-Guibert, J., Graupera, M. & Bilanges, B. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 11, 329–341 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hirsch, E., Ciraolo, E., Franco, I., Ghigo, A. & Martini, M. Oncogene http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/onc.2013.265 (2013).

  4. Okkenhaug, K. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 31, 675–704 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Fruman, D. A. & Cantley, L. C. N. Engl. J. Med. 370, 1061–1062 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Couzin-Frankel, J. Science 342, 1432–1433 (2013).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sakaguchi, S., Miyara, M., Costantino, C. M. & Hafler, D. A. Nature Rev. Immunol. 10, 490–500 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Putz, E. M. et al. PLoS ONE 7, e40852 (2012).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Emilio Hirsch is at the Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.,

    Emilio Hirsch

  2. Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Francesco Novelli is at the Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, University of Turin.,

    Francesco Novelli

Authors
  1. Emilio Hirsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francesco Novelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Emilio Hirsch or Francesco Novelli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hirsch, E., Novelli, F. Natural-born killers unleashed. Nature 510, 342–343 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13503

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13503

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Cancer

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Cancer newsletter — what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Cancer