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Regulating the regulators of the immune system

Researchers discovered that checkpoint inhibitors can activate regulatory T cells, which can counteract the immune response. Blocking PD-L1 enhanced effector Treg activity, reducing ability to control parasite infections. This finding highlights complexity of immune system's balance between controlling pathogens and protecting healthy ...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 19, 2022

Illumination of immune checkpoint LAG3 ‘black box’ could yield new cancer and autoimmune therapies

Researchers have shed light on how immune checkpoint protein LAG3 modulates T cell activity, providing crucial information for the development of new LAG3-blocking therapies. The study found that LAG3 suppresses T cell activation by disrupting coreceptor-Lck association, even in the absence of MHC Class II molecules.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2022

Moffitt researchers identify key characteristics of immune cells in ovarian cancer

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered that tissue-resident memory T cells are crucial for recognizing tumor cells in ovarian cancer. These T cells arise from circulating T cells and undergo a differentiation process to target cancer cells, providing a potential roadmap for improved immunotherapy options.

Immunotherapy plus chemotherapy before surgery improves outcomes for lung cancer patients

Adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy before surgery reduced the risk of recurrence and death in lung cancer patients by 37%, according to a phase III trial. The treatment also led to a nearly twelvefold increase in pathological complete response, with 24% of patients achieving no active cancer remaining when the tumor was removed.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 11, 2022

Houston Methodist researchers identify an immunotherapy target to combat glioblastomas

Glioblastomas, the deadliest brain cancer, have evaded immune cells by promoting immunosuppressive myeloid cells. Researchers identified S100A4 as a key molecule that can selectively target these immune suppressive cells. This discovery paves the way for new therapeutic strategies to restore antitumor action in glioblastoma patients.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2022

Ben-Gurion University researchers and colleagues offer new treatment protocol for advanced head and neck cancer

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have developed a potential treatment combination for advanced head and neck cancer, which shows promise in pre-clinical models. The therapy involves blocking a specific signaling pathway and sensitizing tumors to immunotherapy, resulting in the disappearance of tumors.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2022

Penn-Developed CAR T Cells Suppress GI Solid Tumor Cells, Without Toxicity to Healthy Tissue, in Preclinical Research

Researchers at Penn Medicine have discovered a new approach to treat solid cancers using CDH17CAR T cells, which selectively target and eliminate gastrointestinal (GI) solid tumors like gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers in preclinical models. Unlike other immunotherapies, CDH17CAR T cells do not show toxicity to healthy tissues.

FDA approved new immunotherapy regimen for patients with melanoma based on Johns Hopkins Research

The FDA has approved a novel combination therapy of relatlimab and nivolumab for patients with metastatic or inoperable melanoma. The treatment significantly delayed cancer progression time compared to nivolumab alone. LAG-3 blockade reinvigorated T cell anti-tumor activity, establishing the pathway as the third immune checkpoint target.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 23, 2022

Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD, FAACR, recognized with 2022 Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research

Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg's pioneering work on IL-2 and its use in treating metastatic melanoma and other cancers led to the FDA approval of first U.S.-born cancer immunotherapy. His subsequent research on CAR T-cell therapy has resulted in promising clinical results for various types of cancer.

Novel therapeutic strategy shows promise against pancreatic cancer

Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a novel therapeutic strategy that uses bacteria to deliver tetanus toxin into pancreatic tumor cells, inducing an immune response and killing the cancer. The treatment has shown promise in reducing cancer metastases by 87% and increasing mouse lifespan by 40%.

SourceAlbert Einstein College of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2022

ECOG-ACRIN opens a new NCI-MATCH treatment arm for dMMR and LAG-3-positive cancers as it continues to locate patients with BRAF mutations

The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group has opened a new treatment arm in the NCI-MATCH trial for patients with DNA mismatch repair deficiency and LAG-3 expression. The trial is evaluating two immunotherapy combinations: relatlimab plus nivolumab and dabrafenib plus trametinib, both targeting BRAF mutations.

SourceECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2022

Treating deadly mammary cancer with a novel plant virus-based immunotherapy

A new study reveals that intra-tumoral injections of a plant virus-based immunotherapy could lead to groundbreaking therapy for both canine and human inflammatory breast cancer patients. The treatment generated potent local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses, improving quality of life and survival in treated dogs.

SourceDartmouth Health·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2022

Researchers find natural mechanism to sensitize cancer to immunotherapy

A U-M study defines how a cytokine and fatty acid combination triggers ferroptosis, a type of cell death previously studied with synthetic molecules. This natural mechanism could make immunotherapy treatments more effective, particularly for cancers where the treatments currently work for only about 30% of patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalCancer Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 4, 2022

Changing the standard of care for stage III melanoma surgery

Researchers found that patients with stage III melanoma who received immunotherapy alone had better rates of distant metastasis-free survival compared to those who underwent completion lymph node dissection. The study suggests that de-escalation of unnecessary therapies, such as CLND, may improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology·DateMar 4, 2022

Immunotherapy drug bolsters head and neck cancer treatment

A University of Cincinnati clinical trial showed promising results for patients with intermediate risk head and neck cancer when an immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab, was added to standard treatment regimens. The study found improved one-year disease-free survival rates compared to historical controls.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 28, 2022

New precision technology for immunotherapy

Researchers at Lund University have developed a new precision medicine technology, TS-MAP, to identify and target cancer cell surface proteins. The method provides a direct analysis of all accessible cell surface tumour antigens in tumour tissue from patients.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2022

Researchers discover two treatments that induce peanut allergy remission in children

Two new treatments have been found to induce peanut allergy remission in children, with about half achieving remission and experiencing significant improvements in quality of life. The combination treatment and oral immunotherapy alone were both highly effective, providing substantial benefits for children's health and well-being.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 4, 2022

Immunotherapy with house dust mite extract reduces symptoms of atopic dermatitis

Researchers found sublingual immunotherapy with house dust mite extract to be effective in reducing signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The treatment, administered over 18 months, resulted in significant improvements in pruritus and lesions, with rare side effects.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 3, 2022

UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists identify germline signature that predicts side effects from anti-PD1/PDL1 checkpoint therapy

Researchers have identified a germline biomarker signature that can predict serious side effects in up to 3 in 10 patients undergoing anti-PD1/PDL1 therapy. The findings represent an important step toward personalizing checkpoint therapy, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing harm.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 3, 2022

“Inflaming” cold tumors

Scientists at Technical University of Munich discovered a promising combination therapy for mesenchymal PDAC subtype, showing improved T-cell infiltration and cell cycle arrest when using nintedanib with trametinib. The treatment significantly improves the response of highly aggressive mesenchymal PDAC subtypes in mice.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2022

THE LANCET: Initiating peanut oral immunotherapy in peanut-allergic children under age four may be more effective, first long term study suggests

A randomised controlled trial found that most young children treated with peanut immunotherapy achieved desensitisation after two and a half years of treatment, while one in five remained in remission. Younger children under one year old were more likely to achieve remission, suggesting early interventions may provide better outcomes.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 20, 2022

Scientists demonstrate utility of Bilateral Tumor Model for evaluating anti-cancer T-cell responses

A new bilateral tumor model was demonstrated to be useful for investigating the relationship between T-cell repertoire and cancer immunotherapy's therapeutic effects. The study found that T-cell profiles of both tumors were almost identical, indicating a similar anti-tumor response in a single mouse.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 19, 2022