Researchers at NYU Langone Health identified a protein called HOXD13 that acts as a master controller in melanoma, simultaneously fueling tumor growth and blocking the immune system from attacking cancer cells. HOXD13 boosts blood vessel formation to feed tumors and raises adenosine levels that repel cancer-fighting T cells. When scientists disabled HOXD13 in experiments, tumors shrank and immune cells could re-enter the tumor environment. The findings, published in Cancer Discovery, suggest that combining drugs targeting blood vessel growth (anti-VEGF) with adenosine-receptor blockers — especially in patients with high HOXD13 levels — could be a potent new treatment strategy. Clinical trials testing these drug combinations are already underway.
