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How fat could help in tailoring cancer treatment plans

A study by Osaka University found that fat accumulation in liver tumors can predict patient response to immunotherapy. The researchers identified a unique tumor immune microenvironment, known as steatotic HCC, which is associated with high infiltration of immune cells but exhaustion of nearby T cells.

SourceOsaka University·JournalHepatology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2022

Researchers shed light on why a certain plant virus is so powerful at fighting cancer

A team of researchers has discovered that cowpea mosaic virus, when injected into a tumor, triggers a powerful immune response, preventing cancer recurrence. The unique protein shell and RNA structure of the virus activate toll-like receptors, leading to increased cytokine production and a prolonged anti-cancer response.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalMolecular Pharmaceutics·DateApr 27, 2022

Illumination of immune checkpoint LAG3 ‘black box’ could yield new cancer and autoimmune therapies

Researchers have shed light on how immune checkpoint protein LAG3 modulates T cell activity, providing crucial information for the development of new LAG3-blocking therapies. The study found that LAG3 suppresses T cell activation by disrupting coreceptor-Lck association, even in the absence of MHC Class II molecules.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2022

Moffitt researchers identify key characteristics of immune cells in ovarian cancer

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered that tissue-resident memory T cells are crucial for recognizing tumor cells in ovarian cancer. These T cells arise from circulating T cells and undergo a differentiation process to target cancer cells, providing a potential roadmap for improved immunotherapy options.

Getting under our skin

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have created spatial maps that show how melanoma cells and immune cells interact as a tumor develops. The maps, which offer insights into the early events in melanoma, reveal signs of immunosuppression and may aid in understanding how to prevent or treat the disease.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCancer Discovery·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 14, 2022

Immunotherapy plus chemotherapy before surgery improves outcomes for lung cancer patients

Adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy before surgery reduced the risk of recurrence and death in lung cancer patients by 37%, according to a phase III trial. The treatment also led to a nearly twelvefold increase in pathological complete response, with 24% of patients achieving no active cancer remaining when the tumor was removed.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 11, 2022

Houston Methodist researchers identify an immunotherapy target to combat glioblastomas

Glioblastomas, the deadliest brain cancer, have evaded immune cells by promoting immunosuppressive myeloid cells. Researchers identified S100A4 as a key molecule that can selectively target these immune suppressive cells. This discovery paves the way for new therapeutic strategies to restore antitumor action in glioblastoma patients.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2022

The nanodrug that attacks the cancer twice A single nanoparticle does two jobs: enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reinvigorating the immune system

Researchers at Tel Aviv University developed a drug delivery system based on lipid nanoparticles that utilize RNA to boost personalized cancer care. The nanodrug enhances chemotherapy effectiveness and reinvigorates the immune system, increasing sensitivity to cancer cells.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 4, 2022

Ben-Gurion University researchers and colleagues offer new treatment protocol for advanced head and neck cancer

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have developed a potential treatment combination for advanced head and neck cancer, which shows promise in pre-clinical models. The therapy involves blocking a specific signaling pathway and sensitizing tumors to immunotherapy, resulting in the disappearance of tumors.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2022

Penn-Developed CAR T Cells Suppress GI Solid Tumor Cells, Without Toxicity to Healthy Tissue, in Preclinical Research

Researchers at Penn Medicine have discovered a new approach to treat solid cancers using CDH17CAR T cells, which selectively target and eliminate gastrointestinal (GI) solid tumors like gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers in preclinical models. Unlike other immunotherapies, CDH17CAR T cells do not show toxicity to healthy tissues.

Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD, FAACR, recognized with 2022 Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research

Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg's pioneering work on IL-2 and its use in treating metastatic melanoma and other cancers led to the FDA approval of first U.S.-born cancer immunotherapy. His subsequent research on CAR T-cell therapy has resulted in promising clinical results for various types of cancer.

FDA approved new immunotherapy regimen for patients with melanoma based on Johns Hopkins Research

The FDA has approved a novel combination therapy of relatlimab and nivolumab for patients with metastatic or inoperable melanoma. The treatment significantly delayed cancer progression time compared to nivolumab alone. LAG-3 blockade reinvigorated T cell anti-tumor activity, establishing the pathway as the third immune checkpoint target.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 23, 2022

ECOG-ACRIN opens a new NCI-MATCH treatment arm for dMMR and LAG-3-positive cancers as it continues to locate patients with BRAF mutations

The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group has opened a new treatment arm in the NCI-MATCH trial for patients with DNA mismatch repair deficiency and LAG-3 expression. The trial is evaluating two immunotherapy combinations: relatlimab plus nivolumab and dabrafenib plus trametinib, both targeting BRAF mutations.

SourceECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2022

Treating deadly mammary cancer with a novel plant virus-based immunotherapy

A new study reveals that intra-tumoral injections of a plant virus-based immunotherapy could lead to groundbreaking therapy for both canine and human inflammatory breast cancer patients. The treatment generated potent local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses, improving quality of life and survival in treated dogs.

SourceDartmouth Health·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2022

Researchers find natural mechanism to sensitize cancer to immunotherapy

A U-M study defines how a cytokine and fatty acid combination triggers ferroptosis, a type of cell death previously studied with synthetic molecules. This natural mechanism could make immunotherapy treatments more effective, particularly for cancers where the treatments currently work for only about 30% of patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalCancer Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 4, 2022

The secret hideouts of ovarian cancer revealed

Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered that tumour cells in ovarian cancer hide from the body's immune system by interacting with specific gene mutations. Tumours with BRCA1/2 mutations are more effectively targeted by killer T-cells, leading to better patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 11, 2022

New detailed immune-profiling method uses only DNA from blood

A novel immune-profiling method can return detailed immune cell type proportions using only DNA from blood, potentially allowing for individualized prediction of outcomes in immunotherapy patients. This approach offers the opportunity to ask and answer questions about the immune system in health and disease.

SourceDartmouth Health·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2022

“Inflaming” cold tumors

Scientists at Technical University of Munich discovered a promising combination therapy for mesenchymal PDAC subtype, showing improved T-cell infiltration and cell cycle arrest when using nintedanib with trametinib. The treatment significantly improves the response of highly aggressive mesenchymal PDAC subtypes in mice.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2022

Scientists demonstrate utility of Bilateral Tumor Model for evaluating anti-cancer T-cell responses

A new bilateral tumor model was demonstrated to be useful for investigating the relationship between T-cell repertoire and cancer immunotherapy's therapeutic effects. The study found that T-cell profiles of both tumors were almost identical, indicating a similar anti-tumor response in a single mouse.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 19, 2022

Combination therapies may improve outcomes due to independent, rather than synergistic or additive, drug action

A retrospective analysis of 13 clinical trials found that most combination therapies involving immune checkpoint inhibitors worked due to independent drug action, rather than synergy or additivity. This discovery has implications for cancer clinical trial design and may help improve treatment outcomes.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJan 19, 2022

Skin-related side effects indicate better prognosis for patients taking certain cancer drugs

Patients with skin-related side effects from immune checkpoint inhibitors tend to live longer, with a 22-50% decrease in mortality. These findings suggest that skin toxicities can be an indicator of treatment efficacy and may help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from their current immunotherapy regimen.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJAMA Dermatology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 12, 2022

High-fiber diet associated with improved progression-free survival and response to immunotherapy in melanoma patients

Patients with sufficient fiber intake had improved progression-free survival and response to immunotherapy in melanoma. A high-fiber diet was associated with slower tumor growth and increased CD4+ T cells in pre-clinical models, supporting the potential benefits of dietary interventions on cancer treatment outcomes.

Target identified to improve immunotherapy against solid tumors: the transcription factor Blimp1

Scientists have identified the transcription factor Blimp1 as a new critical regulator of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells. Disrupting Blimp1 in these cells remodels the tumor microenvironment and augments the response to immunotherapy, promoting improved tumor control and anti-tumor immunity.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalMolecular Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2021