Arid5a: A missing link between EMT and tumoral immune resistance

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) endows tumor cells with the ability to invade and migrate, and to suppress antitumor immunity. In this issue, Parajuli and colleagues report that EMT tumors often express the RNA-binding protein AT-rich interactive domain 5a (Arid5a), which they find stabilizes the mRNAs encoding indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO1) and CCL2. As a new link between EMT and tumoral immune resistance, Arid5a represents a therapeutic target of interest. See related article by Parajuli et al., p. 862 (4).