Gene therapy reprograms the tumor microenvironment
The tumor builds around itself a "wall" of immunosuppressive cells or physical and chemical factors that seal off or weaken immune cells. Researchers managed to “hack” and reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) using a special “Trojan Horse”. A gene making IFNα was inserted in a cell population within the tumor, imposing an immunostimulatory program to the TME.