In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento, California, have uncovered a promising new approach to cancer treatment. Their research, published in the journal Cell Death & Differentiation, reveals that CD95 receptors, also known as Fas or “death receptors,” can initiate a self-destruct mechanism within cancer cells.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
These CD95 receptors are situated on the surface of cells and, when activated, trigger a cascade of molecular events leading to cell death. While their role in maintaining cellular balance has been recognized, their full potential in cancer therapy is now coming to light. “Previous efforts to target this receptor have been unsuccessful. But now that we’ve identified this epitope (target), there could be a therapeutic path forward to target Fas in tumors,” stated Jogender Tushir-Singh, senior author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.