A study conducted by researchers from the University of Bonn and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer has demonstrated that the protective scent that tumor cells spray themselves with suppresses the immune system. The study showed that a dense cloud of adenosine is present around cancer cells. The chemical suppresses the immune system, but at the same time, it promotes the growth of new blood vessels that feed and hydrate the tumor. Additionally, adenosine ensures that the cancerous cells spread to other organs and develop metastases there.

Dr. Christa Muller from the University of Bonns Institute of Pharmacy explained that adenosine triphosphate, or ATP for short, is used to make adenosine, a chemical secreted by tumor cells. She added that tumor cells possess a variety of enzymes, such as CD 39, which transforms ATP into adenosine. Hence, globally, pharmaceutical researchers are consequently looking for an active component that slows CD39.

In the study, a total of 50 different drugs that inhibit protein kinases were observed. Out of which, ceritinib showed a positive outcome in preventing the conversion of ATP by CD39. However, Dr. Muller added that the administration of ceritinib as a CD39 inhibitor in certain cancers does not make sense, as the selected active compound may have undesirable side effects. Hence, ceritinib needs to be modified to slow down CD39 rather than inhibit protein kinases. 

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/therapeutic-drugs-can-render-cancer-cells-weaponless-research-101661762270539.html )