science π¬ SA scientists decode cancer's invisibility cloak
South African scientists have decoded how cancer uses MUC1 protein to hide from the immune system. Researchers at the University of Cape Town found that cancer alters the sugar coating on MUC1, turning it into a protective shield. This molecular change stops danger signals and promotes tumor growth by creating an anti-inflammatory environment. They used synthetic biology and computational chemistry to map this process in the lab. This discovery paves the way for developing new cancer vaccines and targeted therapeutics. π¬