[VIRTUAL] NUC-3373 induced DAMPs release in CRC cells promotes natural killer cell activation (AACR 2021)
Used across a broad range of tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), 5-FU (and oral formulation, capecitabine) exerts its main anti-cancer activity via conversion to the active metabolite, fluorodeoxyuridine-monophosphate (FUDR-MP), which binds and inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS), disrupting DNA synthesis and repair...The negative control was DMSO in medium, and the positive controls were oxaliplatin, a known inducer of ICD, and PMA/ionomycin, which causes NK cell degranulation... NUC-3373 induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in CRC cells, followed by release of DAMPs. This promotes NK activation as shown by increased degranulation and upregulation of IFNγ. In an in vivo system, activation of NK cells can recruit and activate other immune cell subtypes to create a more immunogenic environment.