Belgian researchers have identified a new target to treat patients with an advanced form of blood cancer, thanks to research in mice and humans.

EARA members VIB and KU Leuven, at the Centre for Cancer Biology, Belgium, studied the way a molecule (PlexinA4) found in the central nervous system, controls the immune response of cells following immunotherapy – a type of treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer.

In the study, the team found that mice with reduced levels of PlexinA4 had a better survival rate than those with normal levels.

These results correlated with blood samples from patients who responded well to cancer immunotherapy, suggesting it could be used to predict which patients will benefit from the immunotherapy.