Articles tagged with Cancer Immunotherapy
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.
Ugur Sahin received the 2019 German Cancer Award for his pioneering research on individualized cancer immunotherapies. He is developing technologies to identify and exploit unique cancer characteristics to guide the immune system against specific tumors.
Researchers at Osaka University have found a correlation between T cell activity in lung tumors and blood, predicting the efficacy of immune system-targeting therapy. This breakthrough enables non-invasive diagnosis and personalized treatment planning for lung cancer patients.
A study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has identified a drug called dasatinib that could enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies for various types of cancers. The researchers found that combining dasatinib with anti-PD-1 therapy increased sensitivity in cancer cells, making it a promising approach to improve treatment outcomes.
A UCLA-led study found that administering immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab before surgery significantly extended the lives of people with recurrent glioblastoma. The study showed that those who received the drug prior to surgery lived nearly twice as long after surgery compared to those who received it afterward.
Pembrolizumab, a new immunotherapy drug, shows lasting tumor control and improved overall survival in advanced Merkel cell carcinoma patients. The study reports generally manageable side effects and supports the use of immunotherapy as an effective treatment option for this aggressive form of skin cancer.
Researchers at George Washington University Cancer Center have engineered a nanoimmunotherapy ensemble to increase the potency of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating cancer. The goal is to convert 'cold' tumors into 'hot' tumors, which can be more responsive to immunotherapy.
Recent review highlights latest advances in precise nanomedicine for intelligent cancer therapy, exploring metallofullerenol nanoparticles, supramolecular chemo-therapy, and DNA nanorobots. These strategies aim to improve cancer imaging and therapeutic applications while understanding nanotoxicity.
Researchers have found that the LAG-3 molecule's major ligand is actually FGL1, not MHC-II as previously believed. This discovery suggests that designing drugs to block MHC-II may be problematic, and caution should be exercised in immunotherapy research.
A research team at Lund University successfully reprograms mouse and human skin cells into immune cells called dendritic cells. This breakthrough enables the development of novel dendritic cell-based immunotherapies against cancer. The process is quick, effective, and opens up possibilities for patient-specific treatment.
Researchers have developed a CRISPR-based system called SLICE to rapidly assess gene function in primary immune cells, guiding decision-making for next-generation cell therapies. The new method identified genes that promote T cell replication and suppress it, revealing key regulators of proliferation.
A patient-partnered genomics study identified immune checkpoint inhibition as a potential treatment option for patients with angiosarcomas of the head, face, neck, or scalp. The study found that patients with these tumors have high mutational burdens and may respond to immunotherapy.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center have found a specific strain of Helicobacter pylori strongly correlated with stomach cancer. The study suggests that the EPIYA D variant of the cagA gene may be used to identify high-risk patients and improve screening and treatment plans.
A subpopulation of PD-1-expressing NK cells within tumors responds to checkpoint blockade, activating anti-cancer effects. These cells contribute significantly to the efficacy of checkpoint-targeting immunotherapies, suggesting new strategies for improving treatment outcomes.
A UCLA-led study found that a combination of pembrolizumab and SD-101 can alter the tumor microenvironment, enabling the immune system to attack cancer more effectively. The treatment has shown promise in people receiving immunotherapy for the first time, with some patients experiencing complete tumor disappearance.
Researchers have discovered a genetic marker, MUC16 mutation, associated with higher tumor mutation load and improved responsiveness to immunotherapy in gastric cancer. This finding could help identify eligible patients for immunotherapy treatment, which currently responds positively in only 20-30% of cases.
Johns Hopkins researchers developed a new method to analyze bioinformatics data and determine how a patient's immune system responds to immunotherapy. The FEST analysis technique can be used to create a database associating immunotherapy-related responses with clinical benefits.
A study investigating combination checkpoint immunotherapy in lethal advanced prostate cancer revealed that genetic subsets of patients with AR-V7+ prostate cancer may benefit from treatment. One-quarter of patients achieved an objective response, and at least two remain alive for over 18 months.
A Monash University study found that older people's reduced immune responses to cancer and vaccines are due to the accumulation of dysfunctional immune cells. The researchers discovered two types of T cells that lose their ability to fight diseases with age, leading to lower success rates for cancer immunotherapy in the elderly.
The 2018 class of Pew-Stewart scholars is revolutionizing cancer research with promising opportunities to advance treatment, including immunotherapies and responses to these therapies. Their work will open doors to new lines of attack against cancer, addressing unexplored leads in the scientific quest to beat the disease.
A new method for predicting treatment success in cancer patients using immunotherapy has been discovered. This method relies on a protein called PD-1, which is found on the surface of human immune cells and allows them to detect tumors more effectively.
A UCLA-led study found how colon cancer alters its genes to avoid detection by the immune system. The ability of cancer to change its genes, called immunoediting, had never been described in colon cancer before.
Researchers at NCI developed a high-throughput method to identify mutations recognized by the immune system, leading to a complete response in a breast cancer patient. The treatment used tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes that specifically target tumor cell mutations, showing promise for treating common epithelial cancers.
A study found that baking soda can reverse acidity-induced dormancy and drug resistance in cancer cells, making them more susceptible to therapy. Researchers discovered that baking soda neutralizes the acidity of hypoxic patches in tumors, restoring mTOR activity and protein production.
The Stand Up To Cancer-St. Baldrick's Pediatric Cancer Dream Team will continue to develop new immunotherapy approaches for high-risk childhood cancers. The team has made significant contributions to the approval of CAR T-cell therapy and has identified ways to mitigate its side effects.
A study found that tumors may overcome immunotherapy by increasing TIM3 and regulatory T cells, which inactivate immune killer T cells. Adding a TIM3 inhibitor to radiotherapy/immunotherapy increased response duration, but tumors still relapsed. Researchers also discovered that Tregs contribute to cancer regrowth.
A new drug treatment has shown major tumor responses in early stage lung cancer patients before surgery, resulting in fewer relapses. The study found that providing the anti-PD-1 drug nivolumab before surgery increased anti-tumor T-cells that remained after the tumor was removed.
Researchers from SU2C and Cancer Research Institute found that administering immunotherapy before surgery activates T-cells to hunt and destroy distant cancerous cells, preventing relapse. The approach showed encouraging outcomes in 45% of patients, with few evidence of cancer remaining upon follow-up.
A new pre-clinical study suggests that combining PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies with CD27 antibodies may lead to improved immune responses against cancer cells. The combination treatment showed up to 60% protection from cancer, compared to 10% with single treatments.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have invented a new class of immunotherapy drugs called Y-traps, which target and disable key immune suppressors in tumors. The treatment has been shown to significantly decrease tumor growth and even work against cancers that do not respond to existing immunotherapy.
A single-center study found that cancer immunotherapy is safe for patients with rheumatologic diseases, with only a minority experiencing adverse effects. The treatment was successfully administered to all six affected patients, paving the way for its use in select groups with pre-existing conditions.
A new study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that tumors with high mutational burden are more likely to respond to checkpoint inhibitors, a class of cancer immunotherapy drugs. The study suggests that precision medicine could be used to guide clinical trials and improve treatment outcomes for specific patient populations.
Researchers found that Bifidobacterium administration reduced weight loss and inflammatory cytokine levels in mice with colitis, while preserving antitumor immunity. This suggests a potential role for intestinal microbiota in cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute find Runx3 protein enables killer T cells to accumulate in solid tumors, potentially improving cancer immunotherapy strategies. Enhancing Runx3 activity delays tumor growth and prolongs survival in mouse melanoma models.
A new category of immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors shows promise in treating cancers in HIV patients, who were previously excluded from clinical trials. The ongoing study suggests that these drugs can be safely used to manage cancer in people with HIV, providing a new hope for this population.
Ludwig scientists present updates on checkpoint blockade immunotherapies for advanced melanoma and phase 1 clinical trials combining PI3K-gamma inhibitors with PD-1 blockade. Researchers also discuss novel approaches to boosting radiotherapy efficacy and understanding tumor immune suppression mechanisms.
Patients with higher diversity of bacteria in their digestive tract had longer median progression-free survival. A favorable microbiome also was associated with increased antigen processing and presentation by the immune system at the tumor site.
Researchers found that neutrophils can inhibit T lymphocyte activity, weakening the effect of cancer immunotherapy. This mechanism, triggered by soluble mediators released by cancer tissues, can cause an 'evil alter ego' in neutrophils, making them less effective at fighting cancer cells.
The Van Andel Research Institute has been awarded two grants totaling $5.5 million to pursue clinical trials of epigenetic drugs combining with immunotherapies to enhance tumor response. The trials aim to test whether epigenetic therapies can reverse resistance to immunotherapy in lung and bladder cancers.