CD147 handles lipid: a new role for anti-cancer target

The future of anti-cancer therapy is promising as immunotherapy strategies have been revolutionary in treatment of a number of cancers. However, some organs such as the liver are characterised by immunosuppression of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ activity, necessitating alternative strategies for cancers in such tissues. This occurs at least partly through aberrant expression of alpha-fetoprotein that in turn dampens immune activation (1). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of death from cancer worldwide (2). Complementary strategies to CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell-mediated immunotherapies that specifically target HCC are needed for the future of effective and comprehensive cancer therapy. On the short-list for a molecular target for such a therapy is CD147/EMMPRIN.