Natural killers for liver cancer
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide.
Treatment for this cancer is vastly under-developed compared to other forms of cancer. This is particularly important for liver cancer as often patients develop liver cancer on a background of liver cirrhosis, which makes the cancers even harder to treat than those developing in other organs of the body. Additionally patients often come to the attention of the physician late on in disease when the cancer is relatively advanced. Natural Killer cells are important cells in controlling cancer and viral infections. Importantly they can be associated with the control of viral infections that lead on to liver cancer, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Research from Professor Salim Khakoo and colleagues at the University of Southampton has focused on how these cells work to recognize abnormal cells. The liver is full of natural killer cells and recent data suggests that these cells are also important in controlling liver cancer. Currently natural killer cells are used to successfully treat patient with cancers affecting the blood. They are now also a therapeutic opportunity for patients with difficult to treat liver cancers.
Professor Khakoo will be conducting a public lecture on Wednesday 13 November from 16:00 to 17:45 at Biopolis, Singapore. The event will be co-hosted by Professor Sir David Lane (Chief Scientist at A-STAR) and British High Commission.
Media attendance is welcomed.
Should media wish to attend please contact Becky Attwood, Media Relations Officer for the University of Southampton on
r.attwood@southampton.ac.uk