Sialylated Protein Shields Leukemia Cells From Immune Attack

Researchers uncover a new mechanism where a sugar-coated protein creates a physical barrier to protect cancer cells.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:39pm

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A bold, abstract painting in muted earth tones depicting a complex, layered cellular structure with sweeping geometric arcs and precise biological spirals, conceptually representing the protective sugar-coated barrier that cancer cells use to evade the immune system.A sialylated protein shield protects leukemia cells from immune destruction, opening new avenues for targeted cancer therapies.Boston Today

Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized mechanism that human leukemia cells use to evade the immune system, involving a protein called CD43 that creates a physical sugar-coated barrier. The study, conducted by scientists from the Broad Institute, Mass General Brigham, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, found that the heavy sugar coating on CD43 forms a tangible obstruction that prevents macrophages, a type of immune cell, from reaching and destroying the cancer cells.

Why it matters

Leukemia is known for its ability to dodge the immune system, which often makes it resistant to many cancer immunotherapies. By identifying the specific role of the sialylated CD43 protein, researchers have pinpointed a key part of the cancer's disguise, opening up new potential treatment strategies.

The details

The research team uncovered this phenomenon by analyzing thousands of genes across the entire genome of leukemia cells. Their findings indicate that the sugar coating on CD43 does not merely send a chemical signal to the immune system but instead functions as a literal shield, physically obstructing macrophages from reaching and destroying the cancer cells. This mechanism differs from other known ways that cancer cells avoid immune detection, such as the CD47 'don't-eat-me' signal.

  • The study was published on April 9, 2026, in the journal Science.

The players

Broad Institute

A biomedical research center located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that conducts genomic research and develops new technologies.

Mass General Brigham

A non-profit healthcare system based in Boston, Massachusetts, that includes several hospitals and research centers.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

A comprehensive cancer center in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in cancer research and patient care.

Todd Golub

A Dana-Farber pediatric oncologist and the director of the Broad Institute, who was a co-senior author of the study.

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What they’re saying

“Discovering this phenomenon opens up a new avenue for cancer immunotherapy. We think that the concept of cancers hiding behind sugar-coated proteins is not only important for leukemia, but likely other cancers as well.”

— Todd Golub, Dana-Farber pediatric oncologist, director of the Broad Institute and co-senior author of the study

What’s next

Future research will likely focus on developing agents that can specifically block or remove the sugar coating from CD43 to determine if this can effectively trigger an immune response against leukemia and other sugar-shielded cancers.

The takeaway

This discovery highlights the critical role that the physical properties of the cell surface, specifically the density and type of sugar coatings, play in cancer's ability to evade the immune system. Targeting these sugar-coated proteins could open up new avenues for cancer immunotherapy.