A team of cancer researchers at the Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute in Nagoya, Japan have identified a key protein that causes the growth and proliferation of mesothelioma cells, according to findings published earlier this week in the British Journal of Cancer.
The protein – an immune checkpoint inhibitor known as V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) – has previously been the subject of study for how it works to suppress the body’s T-cells, a key part of the immune system’s response to cancer.
However, a study of mesothelioma cells within The Cancer Genome Atlas’ expansive cancer dataset led the researchers to understand that VISTA also functions as a key driver of mesothelioma cell growth, and are highly expressed within mesothelioma cells.
In doing so, these researchers may have identified a significant target for future efforts to develop stronger mesothelioma treatments.
More on What the VISTA Findings Mean for Mesothelioma
Research into mesothelioma cells showed that VISTA – along with a similar protein, B7-H3 – drove higher rates of mesothelioma proliferation when overexpressed, and suppressing the proteins in turn reduced tumor growth.
“Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset revealed that VISTA and B7-H3 were highly expressed in mesothelioma cells; their expression patterns were positively correlated with those of genes highly expressed in epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells, respectively,” according to the study’s abstract.
“Functional studies revealed that VISTA overexpression enhanced proliferation of mesothelioma cell lines, whereas VISTA knockdown markedly suppressed tumour growth in vitro and in vivo.”
In turn, the study found that VISTA also interacts with a signaling protein known as receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), which is known to play a key role in boosting cell survival and proliferation. Therefore, suppressing VISTA may have an even stronger impact on preventing mesothelioma cells from growing and spreading.
Future Directions for VISTA Study for Mesothelioma
Although a great amount of study remains necessary to truly understand how the VISTA protein fits into mesothelioma, these early results have immediately identified VISTA as a significant research pathway for the future.
Research into immunotherapy for mesothelioma has proceeded along similar lines and resulted in successful treatments. In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) for mesothelioma treatment, which are medications that target immune checkpoint inhibitors similar to VISTA that suppress the body’s immune system response.
However, VISTA provides an even more interesting target due to its apparent ability not just to suppress the body’s T-cells, but to actively promote the growth of cancer cells as well. The development of a treatment that can suppress VISTA in mesothelioma cells thus could hold the potential to give mesothelioma patients and providers a potent new weapon against this deadly cancer.
Sources & Author
- VISTA drives tumour-intrinsic proliferation in mesothelioma cells. British Journal of Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-026-03639-z. Accessed on 10/01/2026.
- Immune Checkpoint VISTA Doubles as a Growth Engine Inside Mesothelioma Cells. Bioengineer. Retrieved from https://bioengineer.org/immune-checkpoint-vista-doubles-as-a-growth-engine-inside-mesothelioma-cells/. Accessed on 10/01/2026.
