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MSK Research Highlights, March 20, 2026

Researchers develop new approach to prevent chemotherapy-related leukemia by analyzing blood samples from four clinical trials, showing a 26-36% reduction in blood cell growth with mutated TP53 gene. They also discover that monoclonal antibodies can turn neutrophils into cancer killers and induce tumor eradication in preclinical models.

Scientists “turbocharge” immune cells to attack prostate cancer

Researchers engineered supercharged T cells that can recognize and kill prostate cancer cells more effectively. By fine-tuning how they physically interact with tumor cells, the T cells form a stronger bond, allowing them to deliver a targeted immune response without damaging healthy tissue.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for March 2026

The Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for March 2026 highlights the importance of genetic testing for cancer risk assessment. Researchers have made significant progress in developing new treatments, including mRNA-based immunotherapy for colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Additionally, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge has surpassed $100 million ...

Allison Institute announces appointment of four new members

The James P. Allison Institute at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center appoints Eric Gardner, Betty Kim, Rodrigo Romero, and Hojong Yoon to advance immunotherapy research. These experts bring expertise in immune therapy resistance, cancer vaccines, bioengineering, tumor evolution, and drug development.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Study identifies potential immunotherapy strategy for early-stage prostate cancer

Researchers developed a new immunotherapy strategy by pairing next-generation therapy with standard hormone therapy before surgery, reducing Treg levels inside tumors and improving patient outcomes. The study provides clinical evidence for the effectiveness of engineered anti-CTLA-4 therapies in early-stage prostate cancer treatment.

mRNA nanobodies show promise in treating colorectal cancer

Researchers developed mRNA-encoded nanobodies to combat colorectal cancer, offering new hope for patients resistant to conventional immunotherapies. The treatment demonstrated superior efficacy against sporadic and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

A remote-controlled CAR-T for safer immunotherapy

Researchers have engineered a novel CAR-T cell that can be switched off on demand using a cancer drug, offering improved safety and efficacy. The new system, known as DROP-CAR-T, uses a clinically approved drug to disrupt tumor cell binding, preserving the cells for continued treatment.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Yeast cells can be used for rapid testing of cancer immunotherapy

Engineered yeast cells can mimic real cancer cells and be used to test new cancer immunotherapies much faster and cheaper than before. This new technology enables researchers to assess which CAR T variants are most promising much more quickly, leading to safer and more targeted cancer treatments.

Could these two genes make T cells unstoppable?

Researchers at Salk Institute uncover two transcription factors, ZSCAN20 and JDP2, that determine T cell fate. Turning off these genes reverses T cell exhaustion and restores their ability to kill tumors without losing immune memory. The study challenges the long-standing belief of inevitable immune exhaustion.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Immunotherapy reduces plaque in arteries of mice

A novel antibody-based therapy has been shown to reduce plaque in the arteries of mice, eliminating harmful immune cells that drive inflammation and unstable plaque formation. This immunotherapy could complement traditional methods and help patients with advanced coronary artery disease.

Lipid droplets in the tumor microenvironment

Lipid droplets regulate diverse cellular processes in cancer, including membrane biosynthesis and metabolic homeostasis. Targeting lipid metabolism may disrupt tumor survival and counteract immune cell-mediated protumorigenic effects.

How do nature and nurture shape our immune cells?

Researchers at Salk Institute debut an epigenetic catalog that shows genetic inheritance and life experiences have distinct effects on various types of immune cells, shedding light on individual differences in immune responses and potential new personalized therapeutics.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Hope for smarter lung cancer care

A study from Flinders University found that patients with progressive disease, which describes the way cancer grows, have varying survival rates depending on whether their existing tumours re-grow or new ones appear. Understanding this progression can help doctors make better decisions about future treatment strategies.

Immunotherapy success could be predicted with new biomarkers

Researchers discovered that CHD1 and MAP3K7 gene deletion improves tumor vulnerability to immunotherapy. This finding suggests new biomarkers for predicting patient response and opening up personalized cancer care. The study sheds light on why some patients are more or less likely to respond to certain types of cancer treatments.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

“Recipe book” for reprogramming immune cells

Researchers have created a library of over 400 immune-related factors to reprogram rare immune cell populations. This technique allows for the systematic discovery of 'recipes' for specific immune cells, offering hope for unresponsive patients and advancing immunotherapy.

TB and HIV treatments are not enough for a full recovery

A team at Texas Biomedical Research Institute found that even with effective treatments for TB and HIV, the immune system remains seriously out-of-whack following treatment. The study suggests that host-directed therapies specifically targeting the immune system could potentially restore lung immune system functionality.

Gut bacteria molecule boosts lung cancer treatment response

Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered a small compound produced by gut bacteria that doubles the response to lung cancer immunotherapy treatment in mice. The findings could lead to a new combination therapy that boosts patient responsiveness by 50% without adding invasive treatments.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

MD Anderson shares latest research breakthroughs

Researchers at MD Anderson have made significant advancements in cancer treatment, demonstrating the effectiveness of immunotherapy before and after surgery in improving lung cancer patient outcomes. Additionally, a new study shows promise in using CAR T cell therapy to treat large B-cell lymphoma, reducing relapse rates.

Strengthened immune defense against cancer

Researchers have identified a new class of molecules that specifically degrade the cancer-promoting enzyme IDO1, offering a potential solution to enhance checkpoint-based immunotherapy. These IDO1 degraders may overcome limitations of previous inhibitors and open new avenues for treating various types of cancers.

Victoria’s Secret grant backs cutting-edge ovarian cancer research

Melanie Rutkowski's pioneering research may lead to novel immunotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer by understanding how faulty cellular signaling interacts with the microbiome. The grant aims to enhance immune system's ability to kill cancer cells and improve patient outcomes.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Some antibodies outmaneuver germs from sticking to cells

Researchers discovered that certain antibodies employ unusual tactics to block bacterial adhesion, including creating molecular wedges and conformational traps. These mechanisms could lead to the development of immune therapies targeting glycan-binding cell-attachment proteins produced by bacteria causing urinary tract infections.

Low-dose peanut therapy may help protect more kids with peanut allergy

A new study found that a small dose of peanut oral immunotherapy can help children with their peanut allergy and reduce the risk of severe reactions from accidental exposures. Children receiving the low-dose treatment experienced significant increases in their allergic reaction threshold to peanuts.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Engineering dendritic cells boosts cancer immunotherapy

Researchers at EPFL have developed two bioengineering approaches that exploit extracellular vesicles to train dendritic cells to identify cancer cells without the need for tumor material. The approaches, published in Nature Communications and Science Translational Medicine, show promising results in enhancing cancer immunotherapy.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Gut health à la CAR T

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have devised a new approach to stimulate cell growth and repair in the intestine using CAR T-cell therapy. This therapy has shown promising results in improving gut health in both young and old mice, with significant reductions in inflammation and improved nutrient absorption.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Lower doses of immunotherapy for skin cancer give better results

A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that lower doses of approved immunotherapy drugs can give better results against tumours, while reducing side effects. The regimen with the lower dose of ipilimumab was more effective, with a higher proportion of patients responding to treatment and longer overall survival.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy using marine bacteria

Researchers discovered P. angustum selectively targets colorectal cancer, inducing direct tumor lysis and robust immune activation. The therapy promotes intratumoral infiltration of immune cells and enhances production of inflammatory cytokines, significantly prolonging survival in treated mice.

A ‘magic bullet’ for polycystic kidney disease in the making

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara propose a cyst-targeted therapy using monoclonal antibodies to interrupt the runaway growth of fluid-filled sacs in polycystic kidney disease. The treatment, targeting a driver of cyst progression, shows promise in slowing or reversing the disease with minimal side effects.

Targeting the matrix for anti-tumor T cell revival

Researchers have identified a protein complex that drives T cell exhaustion in tumors and show that disrupting it can revive exhausted anti-tumor CTLs. The study's findings offer new hope for improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.