Articles tagged with Cancer Immunotherapy
A new study suggests that increasing KLL-specific T cells infiltrating the tumor improves patient survival in Merkel cell carcinoma. The research team found that about 20% of patients have T cells specific for this target, which is associated with better outcomes.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to 'rewire' human immune cells to sense and respond to tumor signals, potentially overcoming immunosuppression in cancer treatment. The customized function could also be useful in fighting other diseases.
Researchers developed an artificial structure that can switch on immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. The system mimics the cell membrane of antigen-presenting cells, which are responsible for activating immune responses against cancer.
Researchers have found a link between cancer cachexia and the failure of cancer immunotherapies in patients. By understanding this mechanism, they hope to develop combination therapies that target metabolic abnormalities or hormonal responses, increasing the effectiveness of immunotherapy for more patients.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a modified cancer drug that enhances its ability to reach the brain, improving delivery and reducing toxicity. The new compound shows promise in treating brain tumors by targeting tumor metabolism and evading immune cells.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a novel immunotherapy strategy that targets specific types of cancer while minimizing side effects. They aim to create new and more effective immunotherapies by modulating T cells with a fusion protein.
The Houston Methodist Research Institute has established a research center focused on the physics of cancer immunotherapy, exploring physiological changes during cancer progression. The CITO will combine cancer immunology, biotechnology, and transport oncophysics to reveal how immunotherapy works in cancer patients.
Researchers discovered that the experimental drug AMPI-109 works by flipping a molecular switch on PRL-3 enzyme, which initially puts cancer cells to 'sleep' and then leads to their death. This mechanism could sensitize triple-negative breast cancers to immunotherapy, offering new treatment options.
Researchers found that certain immune cells can recognize cancerous changes before a human tumor is clinically recognizable. However, these T cells are quickly silenced by the tumor, making them non-functional. The study's findings highlight potential strategies to rescue and improve immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors.
Researchers discovered that cancer tumors starve immune T cells by shrinking their mitochondria, limiting their ability to fight cancer. Boosting mitochondrial function in T cells improves their performance and could enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs.
Researchers discovered 122 genetic regions linked to immune cell infiltration in tumors, which could inform the development of future immunotherapies. The study analyzed a large public genomic database and identified new leads for cancer immunology research.
A Phase I/II clinical trial found that nivolumab reduced tumor burden in 24.4 percent of patients with metastatic bladder cancer, regardless of PD-L1 marker presence. The treatment was well-tolerated and showed a median survival of at least one year for 45.6% of patients.
Incorporating laboratory mice that are old and obese into immunotherapy treatments for cancer can hasten therapeutic breakthroughs. The use of young, healthy mice is often preferred, but this approach may not accurately reflect the human immune system's response to treatment.
Researchers developed a new approach to cancer immunotherapy by using donated immune cells to recognize and target cancer cells. The study found that adding mutated DNA from cancer cells into immune-stimulating cells from healthy donors can trigger an immune response in healthy cells, which can then be used to attack cancer cells.
A phase 2 clinical trial of pembrolizumab as a first-line systemic therapy for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma found that the treatment produced an objective response rate of 56% and sustained responses in 86% of patients. The study suggests that immunotherapy may be a promising approach for this aggressive type of skin cancer.
The phase 1b clinical trial of atezolizumab has reported promising results in 23 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Fifty-two percent responded to treatment, and median progression-free survival was 14.1 months. Another patient, Rodney Bearfoot, has remained on the study for over three years despite a stage 4 diagnosis.
Scientists have created T cells that can recognize and destroy cancer cells in pancreatic tumors. The engineered cells were able to attack tumor cells for up to 10 days without harming healthy tissues.
Mathematicians and physicians at the University of Bonn have developed a new model for immunotherapy of cancer. The method describes how tumor cells change their external appearance in response to treatment, making it difficult for T-cells to recognize them as harmful.
Researchers discover inhibiting cholesterol esterification enzyme ACAT1 boosts CD8+ T cells' antitumor activity. Avasimibe, a small molecule inhibitor of ACAT1, shows promising results in treating cancer and could be used as a complement to current immunotherapies.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center have devised a new approach to engineer T cells with improved efficiency and tracking capabilities, potentially speeding up and improving T-cell therapy. The technology uses a small protein tag to purify and track the engineered T cells.
Dr. Riddell will discuss recent advances in CAR T-cell therapy, which has shown sustained regression in previously relapsing cases of B-cell malignancies. His presentation aims to outline steps to improve targeting and reduce side effects.
A Georgia State University researcher has received a four-year grant to investigate how killer T-cells can be enhanced to fight colorectal cancers after radiation treatment. The goal is to develop more effective combination treatments that combine radiation therapy with immunotherapy.
Researchers have discovered molecular changes within tumors that prevent immunotherapy drugs from killing off cancer cells. By reprogramming an epigenetic mechanism, the therapy might work for more patients, according to senior author Weiping Zou.
Dr. Carl June is being recognized for his contributions to cancer immunology, particularly his development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. His work has enhanced the promise of cancer immunotherapy and led to significant breakthroughs in treating leukemia.
James Allison, a renowned immunologist, has been recognized for his pioneering discovery that blocking CTLA-4 improves antitumor immune responses. His work led to the development of ipilimumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor that transformed melanoma treatment.
James P. Allison is being acknowledged for his discovery that blocking CTLA-4 signaling improves antitumor immune responses, leading to the development of ipilimumab, a cancer immunotherapeutic. His research has transformed the lives of patients with melanoma and offers hope for other forms of cancer.
Research links genetic changes in bowel tumours to immune system responses, suggesting potential for targeted immunotherapy treatments. Genetic profiles could be used to diagnose suitability for immunotherapies and tailor treatment plans.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have found that a specific form of antibody, IgG2B, is more effective at stimulating cancer immunity than others. By engineering antibodies into a locked B structure, they aim to create stronger immune stimulators for cancer patients.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have made a breakthrough discovery that may lead to a reliable diagnostic test for predicting which patients will respond to immunotherapy drugs like ipilimumab. The study found that tumors with high numbers of gene mutations are more likely to benefit from the treatment.
Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations in melanoma tumors that predict effective responses to a groundbreaking immunotherapy. The discovery, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could lead to more targeted and personalized cancer treatments, including tailored therapies for patients with diverse tumor genomes.
A recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine found that obesity can lead to lethal inflammation in response to certain anti-cancer therapies. This suggests that preclinical studies on young mice may not accurately predict outcomes in older patients, who are more likely to be overweight and develop cancer.
Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans have discovered that the protein Chop regulates the activity and accumulation of cells that suppress the immune response against tumors. The study found that removing Chop boosts the effectiveness of treatment, revealing it as a target for developing new immunotherapies to treat cancer.
A phase 1b immunotherapy trial combining nivolumab and ipilimumab has shown high one-year and two-year overall survival rates of 94% and 88%, respectively, in advanced melanoma patients. The treatment regimen has demonstrated long-lasting benefits for these patients.
Dr. Robert D. Schreiber receives AACR-CRI Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of cancer immunology, including identifying IFNγ as a key cytokine and developing the cancer immunoediting concept.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center used Droplet Digital PCR to quantify tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes (TILs), a subpopulation of immune cells that improve cancer survival. Higher TIL levels correlate positively with patient survival, suggesting an active role in suppressing tumor formation. The study paves the way...
Dr. Rodriguez's award-winning research identified a potential new therapeutic approach to make T cells resistant to tumor suppression, enhancing anti-tumor activity and overcoming immune suppression. His findings suggest Notch-1 may be an effective new approach for T cell-based immunotherapy.
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have developed a synthetic vaccine that induces tumor clearance in 100% of mice with HPV16-induced tumors. The vaccine, called TriVax-HPV, generates large numbers of cytotoxic T-cells targeting viral proteins, offering an alternative to conventional therapies for cervical cancer.
A new phase III study comparing the efficacy of Bacillus Calmette Guérin strains Tice and Connaught for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment found that Connaught significantly reduced cancer recurrence rates, with a five-year recurrence-free survival rate of 75% compared to 46% for Tice. The study has the potential to shift the...
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found a way to generate antigen-specific T cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which could lead to a simpler and more efficient method for using the body's immune system to fight cancer. The study, published in Cancer Research, used iPS cells from mice converted into immune ce...
Researchers have developed a new microchip that can quickly and inexpensively assess immune function by examining biomarkers from single cells. The technology has the potential to be used routinely to monitor immune system performance and evaluate the effectiveness of certain classes of therapeutics, such as vaccines and immunotherapies.
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will lead the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN), a multicenter research network on promising new agents that boost patients' immune systems. The CITN aims to develop treatments for cancer by selecting, designing and conducting early-phase trials using priority agents.
Researchers propose new clinical trial endpoints for immunotherapies, accounting for delayed responses and novel patterns of anti-tumor activity. The immune-related response criteria (irRC) offer a revised approach to measuring treatment success, considering factors such as lymphocyte infiltration and tumor burden.
Stat3 promotes pro-cancer immune responses and inhibits antitumor immunity by stimulating immunosuppressive factors and inhibiting expression of chemicals critical for antitumor immunity. The study reveals a mechanism by which oncogenic pathways regulate the immune microenvironment to promote tumor development.
Researchers discovered that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) pulsed with tumor lysates can stimulate T cells to attack and kill gastric cancer cells. This finding suggests a potential new approach for treating advanced gastric cancer.
Researchers at OHSU Cancer Institute discovered that combining stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with immunotherapy significantly increases the efficacy of treating lung cancer. The study found that SBRT helped to activate more 'killer' immune cells, leading to better tumor clearance.
Researchers have discovered that the immune system can enter a dormant state with cancer cells, controlling their growth without eliminating them. This finding may lead to alternative treatments for cancer, such as using immunotherapy to induce equilibrium and convert cancers into chronic but controllable diseases.
GSK has launched a Phase III trial evaluating its novel immunotherapy MAGE-A3 ASCI in patients with stage IB or II NSCLC. The trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of MAGE-A3 ASCI as adjuvant therapy following surgery.
Researchers found that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation enhanced the expansion of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells, leading to increased tumor regression. The study suggests that this approach may improve treatment regimens for cancer patients.