Articles tagged with Cancer Immunotherapy
Researchers at the University of South Australia have developed a novel microfluidic approach to purify CAR-T cells, reducing dead cells by over 70% and increasing cell viability by 20%. This method could significantly benefit patients by lowering manufacturing costs and side effects associated with CAR T cell therapy.
A novel combination of immunotherapy targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1 led to a rapid and complete response in a 19-year-old patient with stage 4 epithelioid sarcoma. The patient achieved complete remission within two weeks, resuming normal activities and physical examination.
Researchers discovered that liver tumors can harness the liver's powers to retrain the immune system and exert its influence on distant cancer cells. Adding a second checkpoint inhibitor in combination therapy may overcome this resistance and increase immunotherapy effectiveness.
Researchers identified 182 genes that regulate interaction between cancer and immune T cells, which could be harnessed for effective immunotherapy across different tumour types. The study also revealed the need for new therapy to account for genetic mutations in cancer cells that can make disease worse in response to treatment.
A clinical trial led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center found the iCanQuit app to be nearly 1.5 times more effective in helping adult smokers quit after 12 months compared to the National Cancer Institute's QuitGuide app. The study suggests that for every 100,000 smokers reached with iCanQuit, 28,000 would quit smoking.
A team of researchers developed a mathematical model that can determine the impact of the immune system on tumour evolution. The model predicts when cancer cells will activate their cloaking mechanisms against the immune system and informs on whether immunotherapy is likely to be effective.
The University of Louisville will establish a Center for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy to develop and improve cancer treatments that utilize the immune system. Researchers will focus on advancing strategies to use the immune response to fight cancer, with the goal of saving lives through immunotherapies.
Glioblastoma patients with mutated Wnt signaling exhibit increased PD-L1 production and reduced T cell infiltration. Targeting the Wnt pathway could improve immunotherapy's efficacy in treating various cancers.
A study found that a bacteriophage infecting enterococcus bacteria stimulates an immune response improving the efficacy of cancer treatments. Administration of enterococcus containing the bacteriophage boosted T cell responses in mice, and its presence was associated with improved survival following PD-1 immunotherapy.
Researchers discovered that removing copper from blood can destroy some deadly cancers resistant to immunotherapy. High levels of copper in cancer cells increase expression of PD-L1, a protein that hides cancer cells from the immune system.
Researchers have identified specific bacterial species that boost T-cell immunity and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in treating certain cancers. The discovery may lead to new treatments by harnessing the power of the microbiome to target cancer cells.
Researchers at Hollings Cancer Center are studying T-cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment to discover ways to revitalize immunity against tumors. The team's work may lead to a new approach for immunotherapy by targeting the stress response that undermines T-cell function.
Researchers discovered that a protein called Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) suppresses immune responses to cancer. Blocking NRP1 improves the immune system's ability to remember tumors, leading to better protection against recurrence and improved response to immunotherapy.
A ground-breaking clinical trial is underway at Sheba Medical Center in Israel to evaluate the Immunicom LW-02 plasma filtration device as a monotherapy and in combination with an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. The trial aims to treat resistant metastatic melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and non-sm...
Researchers mapped out immune system of haematological malignancies to identify drug targets and patient groups for immunotherapies. Cytotoxic T and NK cells are abundant in certain subtypes, such as activated B cell-like B cell lymphoma and acute myeloid leukaemia.
New cost-effective technology enables advanced immunology studies on Tasmanian devils and reveals conserved immune pathways across 160 million years of evolution. The system can be applied to any vertebrate species, including humans.
Researchers from Fred Hutch and UW Medicine argue that treating COVID-19 early is crucial to preventing hospitalizations and deaths. They emphasize the importance of widely available home testing with nasal self-swabbing and rapid studies using viral-shedding metrics and symptoms.
City of Hope scientists have developed two potent small molecules, CS1 and CS2, which inhibit the FTO protein and suppress tumor growth in various cancers. The compounds demonstrate significant anti-tumor effects and improved overall survival in mice with acute myeloid leukemia and breast cancer.
A new treatment combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has been shown to improve overall survival by 20.4 months in patients with inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma, exceeding the expected survival time of 12 months with chemotherapy alone.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that combining toll-like receptor 9 agonists and NKTR-214 with PD-1 blockade can induce a potent immune reaction against resistant tumors. This combination therapy is being assessed in human clinical trials to improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
A phase III clinical trial has shown that immunotherapy drug 'avelumab' significantly improves survival in patients with the most common type of bladder cancer. Treatment with avelumab resulted in a 31% reduction in risk of death and extended median survival by over seven months.
A clinical trial led by Mount Sinai researchers showed that combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy can significantly delay the progression of metastatic bladder cancer. The trial also found that immunotherapy alone may be an option for patients with high PD-L1 protein expression in their tumors.
Researchers at Houston Methodist developed a clinically-applicable mathematical model to predict patient outcomes in cancer immunotherapy. The model uses CT-scan imaging data to identify patient-specific indicators of therapeutic response, correlating with anti-tumor immune state and tumor kill rates.
Researchers found that immunotherapy 'checkpoint' inhibitor treatment before surgery eliminated cancer evidence in nearly half of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma. The treatment approach may reduce surgery extent and slow tumor relapses.
A clinical trial found that immunotherapy significantly slowed the worsening of urothelial cancer when given after platinum-based chemotherapy, with a 60% longer time to cancer progression compared to the control group. The switch maintenance immunotherapy approach is expected to become a standard of care for metastatic bladder cancer.
A Phase II study found pembrolizumab to be effective in treating four rare cancer types with acceptable toxicity profiles. The treatment resulted in a median non-progression rate of 28% at 27 weeks, with complete response rates varying between 31-43% for each cancer type.
A study led by the University of Southampton found that a new drug, GKT137831, can break down the barrier preventing lymphocytes from attacking cancer cells. This approach may significantly improve the success rate of cancer immunotherapy treatment for many patients.
Yong Lu and David Soto-Pantoja receive grants to study immunotherapy and cardiotoxicity, aiming to improve cancer treatment outcomes and prevent heart disease. Their research could lead to new approaches in combating metastatic and treatment-resistant cancers.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have identified a potential link between new cancer treatments and tuberculosis. The study found that immune checkpoint inhibitors can lead to an excessive immune response, increasing the growth of bacteria that cause TB disease.
A new study has identified multiple factors contributing to osteosarcoma's poor responses to immunotherapy, including low immune cell infiltration and suppressed immune-stimulating neoantigens. The research provides insights into strategies for improving outcomes with immunotherapy in rare cancer types.
Researchers found that immune cells perceive each other's density to regulate their proliferation, leading to more efficient immune reactions. This mechanism could improve cancer immunotherapies by reducing the risk of excessive immune responses.
A cold plasma patch has been developed to deliver immune checkpoint inhibitors and cold plasma directly to tumors, boosting the immune response and killing cancer cells. The patch significantly prolonged survival and inhibited tumor growth in mice with melanoma.
A study suggests that combining NKTR-214 with adoptive cell therapy may produce a stronger immune response against advanced melanoma, increasing the number of anti-tumor immune cells and their lifespan. This approach could be effective for more patients with advanced solid tumors.
The Mark Foundation Center for Advanced Genomics and Imaging at Johns Hopkins University aims to develop innovative solutions for cancer immunotherapy. The center will utilize a combination of tools from astronomy image analysis, pathology, computer science, cancer genomics, and immunogenomics.
Researchers at University College London have identified a subset of immune cells that can kill cancerous cells, opening the door to new and more effective cancer treatments. The discovery builds on previous research and provides evidence for utilizing Blimp-1 to enhance anti-tumor activity in CD4+ T cells.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have discovered a new way to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer. The study found that a PD-1 inhibitor can be used to treat tumors that currently do not respond to this therapy, when administered in mice lacking the Siah2 gene.
Researchers found that injecting seasonal flu vaccines into tumors in mice increased systemic immune responses and sensitivity to treatments. The results suggest that antipathogen vaccines may find additional benefit as cancer immunotherapies, potentially converting cold tumors to 'hot' states.
Researchers discovered immune cells inside tumor samples can predict progression-free survival after surgery for kidney cancer. Patients with well-supported immune cells have longer disease control, leading to improved treatment options and potential adjuvant therapy trials.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that inhibiting PAK4 gene overcomes resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in preclinical models. Biopsies from patients with melanoma showed high expression of PAK4, correlating with suppressed immune cell infiltration into tumors.
Research on exhausted CD8 T cells provides clues for refining cancer immunotherapy. A new study defines a transitional stage between stem-like and truly exhausted cells, which could be a target for therapy.
Scientists discovered that white blood cell envelopes' molecular order and electric charge protect cytotoxic lymphocytes from harm. This finding could help explain why some tumours resist certain cancer treatments.
A compound developed by Johns Hopkins researchers has been shown to slow tumor growth, alter the tumor microenvironment, and promote durable and highly active anti-tumor T cells. The drug, a prodrug version of glutamine antagonist DON, was designed to target cancer cells' high demand for glutamine.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have conducted the first-in-US trial of CRISPR-edited immune cells for cancer, demonstrating safety and feasibility with three participants. The edited T cells expanded and bound to their tumor target without serious side effects.
A new approach to identifying killer T lymphocytes in patients with gastrointestinal tumors has been developed, which can hone in on unique mutations expressed in cancer cells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of personalized and effective cell therapies for patients who do not respond to current immunotherapies.
A Yale-developed drug stimulates immune cells to shrink or kill tumors in mice, with lasting effects and broad immune response. The therapy is effective alone or in combination with existing cancer immunotherapies, and has shown synergistic effects when combined.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding the role of bioelectricity in cancer. An ultra-sensitive tool has been developed to detect cancer, while a new therapeutic target has been identified to enhance cancer immunotherapy. This discovery offers a promising avenue for non-toxic treatment options.
A cluster of interacting proteins found in Tasmanian devil facial tumours and human cancers could guide the development of new drug combinations that improve immunotherapy treatment effectiveness. Researchers suggest that a class of EZH2 inhibitors may help overcome immune evasion in cancer cells.
Researchers from City of Hope have identified a subgroup of colorectal cancer patients who, despite having many immune cells in their tumors, experience poorer health outcomes due to an overactive immune system. These patients may benefit from immunotherapy to reduce disease recurrence and improve survival rates.
A Penn study reveals that tipping the balance of 'stop' and 'go' signaling in the interferon pathway can predict which patients are likely to respond to immunotherapies. Blocking the signal in cancer cells helps the immune system fight off tumors, offering potential therapeutic implications.
Five postdoctoral scholars will collaborate with experts in physical and biomedical science to better understand the interplay between the immune system and cancers. The fellowships aim to develop new treatments using a patient's immune system to prevent, control, and treat cancer.
A team at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has identified a gene called DUX4 that can prevent the immune system from recognizing and attacking cancer cells. This discovery suggests that blocking the activity of this gene might increase the success of immunotherapy treatments for a wide range of cancers.
Research aims to reprogram immune system cells to target urothelial bladder cancer, a high-recurrence rate type with limited treatment breakthroughs. The new immunotherapy strategy could revolutionize bladder cancer treatment and increase survival rates.
Researchers are testing a therapy called bermekimab, which blocks inflammation and pain-causing molecules in the immune system. The trial aims to improve outcomes in lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancer patients, with the goal of reducing symptoms such as weight loss and decreased mobility.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discover that T cells can activate using either SHP-2 or SHP-1 when PD-1 is inhibited, highlighting the need for dual-targeted therapies in cancer immunotherapy. The study provides new insights into the biochemical signaling pathway of PD-1 and its implications for immunology.
Three young scientists, Murad Mamedov, et al., receive $150,000 for their novel methods in understanding the human immune system. The Michelson Prizes recognize groundbreaking research using genomics, AI, and machine learning to transform human health.
Sophie Paczesny and her team aim to better understand the tumor microenvironment and identify new checkpoint molecules like ST2. They hope to develop targeted therapies using antibodies that can boost the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells.
Researchers found a new pathway to killing cancer cells by targeting ferroptosis, a type of cell death linked to immune cells. The study suggests that combining ferroptosis sensitizer and checkpoint inhibitor treatments creates a strong immune response that fights tumors.
Scientists visualized CAR T cells fighting blood cancer for the first time, revealing key interactions and behaviors. The study showed that CAR T cells can directly kill tumor cells within minutes, but their effectiveness is hindered by aggregation and infiltration issues.
A new urine test using nanoparticles that detect early enzyme activity of immune cells attacking cancer has received a major funding boost from the National Institutes of Health. The test can identify immunotherapy effectiveness very early, helping doctors adjust treatment and combat resistance.
Karin Pelka receives $50,000 fellowship for two years to study immune cell types in colorectal tumors and develop methods to enhance immunotherapy. The Peggy Prescott Early Career Scientist Award aims to accelerate research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.