Researchers discovered how tumors interact with the body to grow and spread, revealing a new target for cancer therapy. Metadherin, a protein encoded by the MTDH gene, mediates this metabolic-immune crosstalk, supporting tumor growth and metastasis.
Studies show that plant fibers and proteins, known as 'proteins imitating fiber,' reprogram microbial metabolism to produce beneficial phenol metabolites. These findings highlight the potential of diet in controlling the microbiome and its outputs.
The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research has appointed three Clinical Scholars, Bernhard Gentner, Caroline Arber, and Christian Hinrichs, to advance cancer research and clinical interventions. The new scholars will focus on translating scientific discoveries into clinical trials and partnerships with leading clinical facilities.
Johanna Joyce, a leading tumor immunologist, has begun her two-year term as President of the European Association for Cancer Research. She will focus on strategic oversight, promoting broad scientific collaboration, dialogue, and training, while addressing issues such as gender disparities in science.
Researchers reveal that high levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-2 (HIF-2) in pancreatic tumor microenvironment protects cells from ferroptosis, a promising target for therapy. The study identifies key biochemical pathways activated by HIF-2 to limit ferroptotic cell death.
Ludwig Lausanne's Ping-Chih Ho has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his distinguished contributions to immune metabolism. His research focuses on elucidating the role of metabolism in anti-tumor immunity and advancing cancer therapy.
A team led by Paul Bastard aims to discover antibodies that open new avenues for early detection, prevention and treatment of cancer. Ludwig Institute scientists will employ novel protein profiling technologies to capture telltale patterns linking antibody repertoires and disease states.
Researchers have engineered a novel CAR-T cell that can be switched off on demand using a cancer drug, offering improved safety and efficacy. The new system, known as DROP-CAR-T, uses a clinically approved drug to disrupt tumor cell binding, preserving the cells for continued treatment.
Tumor-associated neutrophils assume multiple functional states, but one gene expression program supports cancer cell survival and tumor progression across tumor types. A biomarker called CCL3 functionally supports cancer growth by engaging a receptor on the surface of TANs to transmit signals that drive them toward an aged state.
George Coukos directs the Ludwig Laboratory for Cell Therapy at Weill Cornell Medicine's Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center. The lab focuses on developing personalized cellular immunotherapies to optimize cancer treatment strategies.
Researchers discover Vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid compromises anti-cancer immune response, but develop inhibitor KyA33 to restore DC maturation and function. The compound boosts efficacy of dendritic cell vaccines in preclinical studies.
Researchers have identified a protein complex that drives T cell exhaustion in tumors and show that disrupting it can revive exhausted anti-tumor CTLs. The study's findings offer new hope for improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers have identified a potential new strategy for treating glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive type of adult brain cancer. Disabling a protein called ADAR1 can stall GBM cell proliferation while reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to an anti-tumoral state.
Researchers discovered that breast cancer cells co-opt iron-recycling immune cells in bone marrow to acquire essential minerals, disrupting red blood cell production. This adaptation enables cancer cells to survive in low-oxygen environments and proliferate, ultimately leading to anemia and poor patient outcomes.
A new study suggests platelets play a role in limiting systemic inflammation and may offer an untapped source of cancer DNA for early detection, potentially improving the sensitivity of liquid biopsies.
Researchers have identified a key architect of resistance to immunotherapy in bone metastases: reprogrammed neutrophils that suppress anti-tumor immune responses. DKK1 blockade restores the sensitivity of bone metastases to cancer immunotherapy, offering new potential targets for treatment.
A study of ovarian tumor immune landscapes reveals four distinct immunologic subtypes, with those with T cells surviving longer and having better outcomes. The researchers also found that myeloid cells play a key role in reestablishing the immune landscape upon recurrence.
A decade-long study reveals that the source of dietary fat, not adiposity itself, is the primary factor influencing tumor growth in obese mice. High-fat diets derived from animal fats compromise anti-tumor immunity and accelerate tumor growth, while plant-based fats have a neutral effect.
A study by Ludwig Princeton's Asael Roichman and Joshua Rabinowitz found that diet can alter cancer treatment outcomes, with certain plant-based foods influencing gut bacteria to clear PI3K inhibitors more quickly.
Researchers discovered that ascites fluid produced by ovarian cancer suppresses cytotoxic lymphocytes, crippling immune cells' ability to kill cancer cells. Fats in ascites cripple NK cells, T cells, and innate T cells, which are attractive candidates for cellular immunotherapies.
A study has identified a specific mode of fat uptake by immune cells in tumors that serves as a metabolic checkpoint against anti-cancer immune responses. Researchers developed an antibody, PLT012, to dismantle this barrier and restore anti-tumor immunity in mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases of colon cancer.
A combination therapy that targets the differentiation barrier in AML cells has been identified, showing potential to treat some AML subtypes. The treatment involves activating genes that drive cell differentiation while suppressing those that promote cancer growth.
Ludwig Cancer Research scientists have devised new types of chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) T cells that can be switched on and off with existing drugs, improving safety and efficacy in solid tumors. The design and preclinical evaluation of the CAR-T cells addresses the challenges of traditional therapy.
The developed pipeline, NeoDisc, integrates molecular and genetic analyses of tumors and utilizes artificial intelligence algorithms to identify personalized neoantigens for vaccine design. Researchers also show that NeoDisc provides a more accurate selection of effective cancer antigens than current computational tools.
A study by Ludwig Cancer Research reveals that the most common type of DNA mutation contributing to genetic diseases is primarily caused by errors during cell division. The team found that a key component of the cell's DNA-copying machinery makes editing mistakes when encountering methylated cytosines, leading to mutations.
Researchers have discovered that fibrotic scarring enables the regrowth of tumors after aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. Blocking fibrosis with anti-fibrosis agents could help prevent relapse and improve therapy outcomes.
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified PPARβ/δ, a master regulator of gene expression, as essential to the generation of memory T cells, which confer lasting immunity. The study also shows that the switch's dysfunction compromises T cell 'memory' and anti-cancer immune responses in mice.
A new immunotherapy approach employs a two-pronged attack against solid tumors to boost the immune system's ability to target and eliminate cancer cells. By combining CV1-producing T cells with cancer-targeting antibodies, researchers improved macrophage consumption of tumor cells, suggesting a potential solution to treatment challenges.
Researchers developed a predictive model, TRTpred, to identify the most potent cancer killing immune cells using artificial intelligence. The model achieved 90% accuracy in identifying tumor-reactive T cells and can be applied to personalized cancer treatments.
Researchers discovered that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) undermines the anti-cancer immune response and compromises adoptive cell therapy using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Disrupting PGE2's mechanism improves therapeutic potential of transferred TILs in mouse models of cancer.
Researchers found that tumors with preexisting immune cell networks were most primed to respond to adoptive T cell therapy, and patients whose tumors featured such networks responded best to treatment. The study provides a step towards identifying patients who are likely to benefit from personalized immunotherapies.
Researchers found that the loss of Bmal1 reduces melanoma tumor growth, contrary to expectations. The study also uncovered mechanisms of tumor suppression and resistance to immunotherapy, suggesting a contextually variable role for the circadian clock in cancer.
A study has generated a detailed portrait of brain tumor blood vessels, revealing how they support cancer growth and immune evasion. Researchers identified a potential target, CD276, and showed that its inhibition extends survival in mice with breast cancer brain metastases.
The Ludwig Leadership Fellows Program aims to address the loss of young talent from academic science by offering independent research funding, laboratory space, and mentorship. The program provides up to five years of support, including $350,000 per year for research expenses and salary.
Researchers have discovered that brain tumors manipulate immune cells called neutrophils to promote tumor growth and suppress anti-cancer responses. The study identifies key mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment converts neutrophils into immunosuppressive agents, providing new avenues for treating gliomas and brain metastases.
Researchers found that combining adoptive T cell therapy with a personalized cancer vaccine improved control of the disease in 12 out of 17 patients with late-stage ovarian cancer. The treatment was also safe and relatively well-tolerated, with median overall survival time exceeding six months for most patients.
Researchers found that inhibiting isocitrate dehydrogenase in T cells leads to transformation into memory cells with enhanced anti-tumor activity. This discovery could improve CAR-T and other adoptive cell therapies by overcoming exhaustion.
Researchers discovered a pair of genes whose expression by immune cells in tumors is linked to patient outcomes and controls human cancers. The study identified a gene expression ratio that predicts tumor behavior and potential therapy targets, offering new insights into cancer treatment.
A study found that high tumor monocyte content is linked to improved outcomes in esophageal cancer patients treated with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The degree of tumor mutational burden also predicts survival outcomes, suggesting a potential biomarker for selecting patients likely to benefit from immunochemotherapy.
Researchers developed a platform called Orion that bridges parallel worlds of microscopic analysis and multiplexed tissue imaging. The platform enables the integration of information from each source into a comprehensive view across the entire slide, predicting patient prognosis and tumor behavior.
Two independent studies reveal neutrophils' crucial role in cancer immunotherapies, showing promise for new treatments. Neutrophils surge in tumors responding to immunotherapy, playing a key role in eliminating cancer cells that evade T-cell recognition.
A recent Ludwig Cancer Research study reveals that the immune system's surveillance of cancer can induce metabolic adaptations in early-stage tumors, promoting their growth while evading lethal immune responses. The study identifies three key proteins orchestrating this effect: IFNγ, STAT3, and c-Myc.
A Ludwig Cancer Research study found that cancer cells express high levels of the protein FMRP, which shields tumors from immune detection and destruction. The study reveals a signature of gene expression induced by FMRP that predicts poor patient survival across multiple types of cancer.
Researchers at Ludwig Chicago develop a novel nanotechnology that induces therapeutic anti-tumor immune responses and demonstrates efficacy in mouse models of multiple cancers. The nanoparticle-loaded drug activates the STING protein, promoting inflammation and driving immune cells to attack tumors.
The study, led by Johanna Joyce, develops a strategy to noninvasively monitor key immune cells known as macrophages within brain and breast tumors. The researchers use nanoparticles labeled with fluorine isotopes that emit distinctive signals detectable by MRI, allowing for the direct imaging of TAMs across tumor geography.
Researchers at Ludwig Lausanne have identified a combination of three existing drugs that significantly extends survival in mouse models of GBM. The combination, which includes an antidepressant, immune checkpoint blockade antibody, and a cancer therapy analog, unleashes powerful anti-tumor immune responses.
Researchers modeled tumor evolution and found a tradeoff between growth advantage and immune evasion, suggesting certain mutations be ideal targets for precision immunotherapies. This could help prevent cancer emergence in people with inherited proclivity for malignancy.
Researchers will present breakthroughs in tumor immunology, cancer drug resistance, and early detection methods. The AACR Annual Meeting features a diverse range of studies on various aspects of cancer research.
Researchers at Ludwig Stanford University have solved the structure of a key protein involved in immune cell signaling and blood cancers. The study reveals how mutant versions of this protein lead to continuous growth signals, driving cell proliferation and blood cancers.
A ketogenic diet has been shown to triple survival time in mouse models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma when combined with chemotherapy. The diet reduces circulating glucose and depresses insulin levels, which can enhance the antitumor effects of chemotherapy.