Immunotherapies have limited success in treating advanced breast cancers, but new research from Stanford University and the Arc Institute has identified a protein called ENPP1 that acts as an on/off switch for breast cancer metastases and resistance to immunotherapy. High levels of ENPP1 are associated with immunotherapy resistance and increased risk of metastases. By studying ENPP1 levels in patients, clinicians may be able to predict patient response to immunotherapies more accurately. Additionally, targeting ENPP1 with inhibitors could enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments. The research suggests that ENPP1 may also play a role in other difficult-to-treat “cold” tumors, such as lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
https://news.stanford.edu/2023/12/20/breast-cancer-metastasis-off-switch-revealed/