22. April 2025

New way to prevent duodenal cancer New way to prevent duodenal cancer

People with the hereditary disease familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have a greatly increased risk of developing a malignant tumor of the duodenum. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 at the University of Bonn have now discovered a mechanism in the local immune system that can drive the development of cancer. They see this as a promising new approach to preventing duodenal carcinoma in people with FAP. The results have now been published in the journal "Nature Communications".

Process in the local immune system that can drive the development of cancer in hereditary FAP syndrome.
Process in the local immune system that can drive the development of cancer in hereditary FAP syndrome. - Image was generated with ChatGPT4o © Benjamin Krämer, UKBonn
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Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary disease which, in addition to a high risk of bowel cancer, also a greatly increased risk of duodenal cancer. At present, the only treatment available is close endoscopic monitoring with removal of the precursors, known as polyps, although this is also associated with an increased risk. "But there are no specific preventive therapies," says co-lead author Dr. Benjamin Krämer, Scientific Head of the Laboratory for Congenital Cellular Immunology at the UKB. "Since the severity of the disease varies greatly even among carriers of the same gene mutation, the search is on for other factors that influence the development of the disease - and the local immune system is becoming the focus of attention."

Neurotransmitter causes damage to the genetic material

The Bonn researchers have now discovered that certain cells of the innate immune system, known as type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3), are present in significantly higher numbers in the duodenum of FAP patients. "We found an increased number of these cells in the mucosa, particularly in the vicinity of polyps and cancerous areas," says co-lead author Dr. Robert Hüneburg, senior physician at the Medical Clinic I and the National Center for Hereditary Tumor Diseases at the UKB.

The Bonn research findings provide clues as to how these immune cells...

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The authors like to thank the Flow Cytometry and Bioinformatics Core Facility of the Medical Faculty at the University of Bonn 

Kim M. Kaiser et al: IL-17A-producing NKp44(-) group 3 innate lymphoid cells accumulate in Familial 2 Adenomatous Polyposis duodenal tissue; Nature Communications; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58907-y

Prof. Dr. Jacob Nattermann
Laboratory for innate cellular immunity
Center for hereditary tumor diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I
Bonn University Hospital (UKB)
ImmunoSensation² & TRA "Life & Health", University of Bonn
E-mail: jacob.nattermann@ukbonn.de

 

Dr. Benjamin Krämer
Scientific laboratory management
Laboratory for innate cellular immunity
Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I
Bonn University Hospital (UKB)
E-mail: benjamin.kraemer@ukbonn.de
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