Recent research findings proposed discovery of a genetically engineered protein to fight against cancer cells. It has been reported that this protein targets body’s immune cells, which further, invade tumor and fight against cancer cells.

The research commissioned by an international team, which was led by Prof Ruth Ganss at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, stated that so far immunotherapy has been looked forward to as a treatment for cancer, as these cancer cells become resistant to immune cells.

Moreover, as cancer advances, the tumor also expands, thus making it more difficult for the immune cells to invade and even in case, these cells are able to enter the tumor, then its environmental conditions, either kill it or these cells are unable to function in them.

Dr. Anna Johansson, from The University of Western Australia, a team member said, “We engineered a protein called TNF-Alpha so that it went straight to a pancreatic tumour and stayed there without toxic side effects outside the tumour”.

Moreover, it was notified that the protein functioned in a significant manner by affecting blood vessels of tumor, thus opening the tumor and allowing the entrance of immune cells.

However, it has been asserted that the protein needs to be given in low doses, as in excess, it can be toxic.