SRC-3 Protein in Regulatory T Cells Emerges as Potential Immunotherapy Target for Solid Tumors, Baylor Researchers Report
Baylor College of Medicine researchers have published new findings in OncoImmunology showing that the SRC-3 protein in regulatory T cells (Tregs) may be a viable immunotherapy target for solid tumors. Building on 2023 work by the late Dr. Bert O'Malley, the team suggests targeting SRC-3 could yield more effective, longer-lasting, and lower-side-effect cancer treatments. Study design details and conflict-of-interest disclosures require review of the primary publication.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have published new findings suggesting that a protein called steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), found in immune cells known as regulatory T cells (Tregs), may represent a novel and promising target for cancer immunotherapy. The study, published in OncoImmunology, builds on foundational work from 2023 led by the late Dr. Bert O'Malley, who first identified SRC-3's decisive role in shaping the anti-cancer immune response within Tregs.
Tregs are a subset of immune cells that normally suppress excessive immune responses, but in the tumor microenvironment, they can obstruct the body's ability to mount an effective attack against cancer cells. The Baylor team's research focuses on how SRC-3 within these Tregs influences that suppressive activity, potentially providing a molecular handle that could be targeted therapeutically.
According to the research team, manipulating SRC-3 activity in Tregs could lead to more effective, longer-lasting cancer treatments with fewer side effects compared to existing immunotherapies. The researchers suggest this approach may be particularly relevant for solid tumors, which have historically proven more resistant to immunotherapy than blood cancers.
The new paper in OncoImmunology represents a continuation of the lab's earlier work and reports what the team describes as 'more promising results,' though the specific experimental details, sample sizes, and study design — including whether findings are based on animal models or human cell data — were not fully detailed in the summary available. Readers are encouraged to consult the primary publication in OncoImmunology for full methodology, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and statistical findings.
SOURCE: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-immunotherapy-src-tregs-reshape-solid.html
EDITOR'S NOTE — Study Quality Assessment: The evidence base cited derives from preclinical or early translational research published in a peer-reviewed journal (OncoImmunology). Study type, sample size, and potential conflicts of interest could not be independently verified from the available summary. These findings should be interpreted cautiously until replicated in larger, well-controlled studies and, ultimately, clinical trials.
VITALIS: This could mean more people with stubborn solid tumors get treatments that last longer and leave them feeling less wiped out than current options. For everyday patients, it points to a future where beating cancer feels less like a brutal fight and more like giving your own immune system a smarter, gentler boost.
Sources (1)
- [1]A new immunotherapy target? How SRC-3 in Tregs may reshape solid-tumor treatment(https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-immunotherapy-src-tregs-reshape-solid.html)