Articles tagged with Cancer Immunotherapy
A new study found that adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy after surgery for patients with stage 3 (node-positive) colon cancer resulted in a 50% reduction in cancer recurrence and death compared to chemotherapy alone. The treatment combination showed significant benefits for patients with deficient DNA mismatch repair genetic makeup.
Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering Natasa Miskov-Zivanov is receiving a $581,503 NSF CAREER Award for her project that leverages AI to design more effective lymphocytes for cancer immunotherapies. The system aims to accelerate the process of designing new therapeutic cell designs.
In an international clinical trial, a new CAR-T cell immunotherapy demonstrated promising results against aggressive blood cancers, including T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Most patients who received the full dose of cells achieved full remission, with response rates ranging from 70-90%.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have made new discoveries about BCG therapy, which has been shown to reprogram and amplify immune cells in the bone marrow, boosting the body's ability to fight cancer. The findings could lead to improved immunotherapies for various types of cancer.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have discovered that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy reprograms and amplifies cells in the bone marrow, enhancing the innate immune system's ability to combat cancer. This breakthrough could lead to improved immunotherapies for various cancers.
Researchers identify five distinct immunotypes in tongue squamous cell carcinoma, shedding light on why current immunotherapies fail. The study's findings highlight the need for immune-based assessments to guide treatment decisions and suggest a new approach to personalized medicine.
Researchers developed a dual action immunotherapy using CAR-T cells targeting CD19 and CD22 proteins in B-ALL cancer cells, increasing the efficacy of treatment and reducing relapse rates.
Researchers discovered a novel mechanism by which glioblastoma cells exploit astrocytes to evade immune responses. The study highlights an astrocyte-driven mechanism used by GBM to escape protective immune responses and could guide novel immunotherapies for the treatment of this aggressive brain cancer.
A UCLA study found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can significantly enhance the ability of T cells to fight cancer and suppress tumor growth across various cancer types in mouse and human tumor models. SSRIs increased access to serotonin signals, making killer T cells happier and more effective at killing cancer c...
A new analysis of over 18,000 cancer cases suggests that obese patients may fare better after immunotherapy treatment, with improved overall survival rates. The study's findings raise intriguing questions about the role of obesity in immunotherapy effectiveness and highlight the need for further research to understand this phenomenon.
A new study at the University of Turku identified conditions under which Bexmarilimab activates the immune system against cancer. The drug was shown to trigger B cell-mediated immune responses in healthy tissue adjacent to tumors. This could lead to more accurate patient selection and improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers found that aging impairs CAR-T cell function and antitumor activity due to lower NAD levels. Rejuvenating aged cells with NAD-boosting compounds improves their effectiveness.
UT Dallas bioengineers have created an enhanced light-activated immunotherapy approach to target advanced stomach cancer. Lab-designed molecules are primed with far-red or near-infrared light to activate the immune system against stubborn cancer cells, reducing side effects.
Researchers at A.C.Camargo Cancer Center developed a more powerful version of CAR-T cells by inhibiting the epigenetic alterations that made them inefficient against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This modification resulted in improved treatment efficacy, tumor elimination, and reduced side effects.
Researchers found that denosumab increases tumour-infiltrating immune cells in early-stage breast cancer patients, particularly in type B luminal tumours. This increase is associated with a potential boost to the anti-tumor immune response and offers a valuable avenue for clinical interest.
A new Stanford Medicine-led study reveals that CAR-T cell therapy causes mild cognitive impairments in cancer patients, independent of other treatments. Researchers identified the cellular mechanism behind this effect and found strategies to reverse it.
Researchers discovered 500 cryptic peptides found only in pancreatic tumors, which could be targeted by vaccines or engineered T cells to attack the cancer. The peptides were identified using immunopeptidomics and shown to slow down tumor growth in mice.
A new strategy for treating B-cell lymphoma has shown promising results with a next-generation CAR T cell therapy that incorporates IL18. The treatment achieved high remission rates of 81% and complete remission in 52%, with some patients experiencing durable responses lasting two years or more.
Researchers have successfully tested a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique to enhance the immune system's fight against advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The treatment showed encouraging signs of safety and potential effectiveness in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer, halting tumor growth and even achieving complete responses.
A USC team has developed an advanced platform to analyze chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, revealing how their manufacturing conditions impact effectiveness. The tool uses laser technology to analyze 36 characteristics of a single cell, providing a clearer view of CAR T cell behavior.
Adaptive NK cells exhibit tumor-specific immune memory and cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer, making them promising for cancer treatment. The study challenges previous perceptions of NK cells, which have historically been considered only innate immune cells with no memory function against cancer.
A phase 3 clinical trial shows that adding pembrolizumab to standard-of-care therapy increases tumor shrinkage and prolongs cancer-free survival by nearly two years. Patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers benefited from this addition, marking a significant change in standard-of-care for the disease.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presented abstracts highlighting contrasting effects of a protein on head and neck, breast, and lung cancers. The study found increased levels of IL-9 in patients with head and neck cancer correlated with decreased survival, while elevated IL-9 was associated with smaller tumo...
The ImmunoVerse podcast features conversations with leading physicians and scientists in immunotherapy, highlighting groundbreaking discoveries and their impact on cancer care. Launched by Moffitt Cancer Center, the podcast aims to spark conversation, inspiration, and hope for those affected by cancer.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that older adults with cancer benefit equally from immunotherapy treatments as younger patients, with key differences in their immune responses and cells. Researchers hope to develop new therapies tailored to different age groups' needs and improve treatment success.
A subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who discontinued immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy due to immune-related adverse events continued to experience long-term disease control. The median post-discontinuation progression-free survival was 12.7 months, and the median post-discontinuation overall survival was 43.7 months.
A survey by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center found that 65% of Americans are unfamiliar with CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized cancer treatment option. The therapy involves extracting and engineering immune cells to recognize and kill cancer cells, with promising results in treating blood cancers.
Researchers found basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) have an immune-excluded phenotype with minimal HLA-I expression, even in early development. A stem-like quiescent program suppressed APM genes, which could be reversed to enable BCC immunotherapy.
Scientists have discovered a new immunotherapy strategy using type I dendritic cells to activate strong immune responses and generate immune memory against cancer. The treatment helps prevent tumor relapse in mouse models by triggering an immune memory response.
University of Virginia researcher Natasha D. Sheybani has received a $5.5 million grant to advance her research on focused ultrasound technology for breast cancer immunotherapy. Her work aims to enhance the safety, effectiveness, and precision of immunotherapy drugs.
A new clinical trial at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is testing a novel combination of immunotherapy drugs and an oncolytic virus to treat high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. The trial aims to find safe combination doses and compare effectiveness with standard-of-care treatment.
Researchers at KAIST discovered that DDX54 is the master regulator hindering immunotherapy's effectiveness in lung cancer. Supressing DDX54 enhances immune cell infiltration into tumors and improves immunotherapy efficacy.
A Rice University-led team developed an implantable 'cytokine factory' that triggers potent immune responses against hard-to-treat cancers. The IL-12 cytokine factory successfully induces the recruitment of tumor-targeting T cells, eliminating local and distal tumors in preclinical models.
A new study found that blocking an enzyme called HPGDS may be a way to improve melanoma treatment for patients who don't respond to immunotherapy. The enzyme promotes tumor growth and metastasis dissemination by blocking T-cell activity, but blocking it boosts the immune response.
Researchers developed bacteria-enhanced graphene oxide nanoparticles that effectively destroy tumors through a three-pronged mechanism. The nanocomposites combine chemotherapy, immune activation, and photothermal heating to suppress tumor growth and activate strong immune responses in mice.
Researchers at USC Viterbi have developed a new type of immune cell that can sense and destroy cancer cells for extended periods using focused ultrasound. This technology could overcome obstacles in treating tumors with immunotherapy while keeping healthy tissue safe.
Researchers at Osaka University identify a specific molecule, HLA-DRB1, that can be targeted by CAR-based therapy for AML. Engineered CAR T cells showed strong and specific anti-AML effects in vitro and in vivo with mice, without overt toxicity.
The study highlights ICRAFT's ability to pinpoint genes like TNFAIP3 (A20) with dual immunoregulatory effects in both tumor cells and immune cells.
Researchers from Prof. Yardena Samuels's lab developed a new approach to cancer treatment by manipulating cancer cells to produce dozens of suspicious proteins, leading to a powerful immune response that destroys human cancer cells and slows tumor growth in mouse models.
A recent study by the CNIO Melanoma Group has discovered a mechanism by which melanomas evade immune system surveillance. The research found that melanoma cells secrete Midkine, a protein that reduces dendritic cell numbers and reprograms their function to promote tumour development.
The Weill Cancer Hub East will unite world-class experts in cancer biology, immunology, nutrition and metabolism to drive pioneering research. The hub aims to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy, a promising approach for many types of cancers.
New leukemia treatment combination shows promise for patients with follicular lymphoma. Immunotherapy research also explores ways to suppress protein ZNF638 to boost effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Innovative funding efforts support Sylvester's cancer research initiatives.
The study of 19,000 patients shows immune checkpoint inhibitors greatly improved survival rates for those living with MSI-H colorectal cancer. Researchers found factors that may improve therapy's effectiveness against MSS tumors under certain conditions.
The European Lung Cancer Congress 2025 will take place in Paris from March 26-29, featuring renowned experts discussing the latest research on lung cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The congress will also include award lectures and live streaming of the event.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that removing the 'signal jammer' protein VDAC2 can improve how tumors respond to immunotherapy. This breakthrough could lead to new ways to enhance immunotherapies and make them more effective in treating resistant cancers.
Researchers developed a new diagnostic platform that classifies brain tumors based on the body's cancer-fighting immune response. The approach tailors treatment options to each patient's unique immune profile, offering improved diagnostics and potential for immunotherapies to revolutionize childhood leukemia treatments.
Dr. Nowicki's team has engineered 'supercharged' T cells that produce extra TNF-alpha to boost cancer-fighting ability, offering a potentially more precise and toxic-free treatment option. The new funding will help test these enhanced T cells in preclinical models to evaluate their effectiveness.
The ESMO Sarcoma and Rare Cancers Congress 2025 will bring together experts to present and discuss developments in diagnosing and treating rare solid tumours. The event will focus on immunotherapy, global challenges, and opportunities for international collaboration.
A new type of RAS inhibitor, daraxonrasib (RMC-6236), has shown significant promise when combined with immunotherapy in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. The study found that the treatment not only inhibited tumor growth but also reshaped the tumor microenvironment to make it more receptive to immunotherapy.
Researchers at University of North Carolina Health Care found that combination immunotherapy before surgery increased survival rates in people with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. The treatment regimen doubled or tripled the response rate versus single immunotherapy, leading to a survival benefit for up to a third of patients.
Researchers identified fibronectin and smooth muscle actin as associated with resistance to immunotherapy treatment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts produce these proteins, which contribute to the suppression of the anti-tumor immune response.
The study found that Black patients have a higher prevalence of PD-L1 overexpression, TP53 mutations, and KRASG12R mutations compared to White patients. This could affect how their cancer progresses and responds to treatment.
Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered a way to predict a potentially life-threatening side effect of cancer immunotherapy before it occurs. By analyzing cerebrospinal fluid, they identified specific proteins associated with an immune response that can affect the central nervous system after therapy.
A Phase 2 clinical trial found that a neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy regimen achieved a 53% deep response rate, exceeding historical data with chemotherapy alone. The treatment approach led to impressive survival outcomes and fewer toxic side effects in patients with advanced HPV-negative head and neck cancer.
Researchers at University of Arizona Cancer Center found that an immunotherapy previously shown to be ineffective against prostate cancer may have therapeutic potential when combined with a specific protein inhibitor. The study's co-author, Noel Warfel, PhD, identified a way to sensitize prostate tumors to immune checkpoint inhibitors ...
Researchers at Amsterdam UMC and Moffitt Cancer Center found that contact with CLL cells leads to an energy crisis in T cells, making them unable to proliferate. The study suggests that restoring T cell energy could significantly enhance the effectiveness of current treatments for cancer.
Researchers at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have identified four coordinated gene expression programs in immune cells from glioma tumors that can lead to immunotherapy resistance. The study found two programs that could be targeted to improve patient response to immunotherapies, including one that may reduce the effectiveness of ...
A rare case of T cell lymphoma developed in a patient with multiple myeloma nine months after CAR-T cell therapy. Genetic alterations in the patient's haematopoietic cells played a role in tumour development, highlighting the importance of genetic predispositions for potential side effects.
Researchers discovered noncoding cryptic peptides as an alternative source of target antigens for ovarian cancer. The findings could improve treatment approaches by mobilizing the immune system to attack tumor cells.
A recent Lancet article revealed that durvalumab combined with radiation therapy offers no benefits for patients with head and neck cancer who cannot receive cisplatin. However, a new clinical trial is underway to test the use of a heavy metal to enhance radiation therapy, providing potential new options for these patients.