Articles tagged with Immunotherapy
Lili Yang and her team aim to develop a universal CAR-NKT cell immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis, providing a sustained therapeutic effect that daily or weekly medications cannot match. The approach targets the core biological mechanisms of MS, offering a potentially more significant delay or even cure.
Scientists have identified a unique chimeric RNA called UBA1-CDK16 that plays important roles in women's blood cell development and disease severity. The findings suggest the chimeric RNA may serve as a natural brake to protect women from excessive autoimmune activity.
The US retains its scientific edge but is losing the race to translate discoveries into cures, warns a new report from Cure Innovation Index. Without immediate renewed investment and policy changes, the US scientific edge will not hold.
The study synthesizes recent advances in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to identify tumor-enriched cell subsets closely related to prognosis and treatment response. The review introduces the
Johanna Joyce, a leading tumor immunologist, has begun her two-year term as President of the European Association for Cancer Research. She will focus on strategic oversight, promoting broad scientific collaboration, dialogue, and training, while addressing issues such as gender disparities in science.
Rice University has received a $2 million CPRIT award to advance cancer research, including new studies in immunotherapy and ovarian cancer. The funding will support the expansion of the Genetic Design and Engineering Center, which provides a centralized hub for DNA tools used in cancer research.
TIGIT is a second-generation immune checkpoint that exerts immunosuppressive effects through multiple pathways, promoting a hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Combination with PD-1 inhibitors has shown remarkable promise, improving objective remission rates and progression-free survival.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center have made significant advances in understanding cancer biology, developing AI-powered atlas of tertiary lymphoid structures as prognostic biomarkers, and uncovering drivers of resistance to KRAS inhibitors. Additionally, they have discovered a molecular pathway that drives stressed cells to b...
Researchers have found a widely available drug combination to be an effective treatment for patients with systemically active Sjögren's disease. The combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine reduced disease activity while maintaining a favorable safety profile.
The study demonstrated a response to treatment in several tumor types, including lung cancer and head and neck cancers. A significant tumor shrinkage was observed in four out of 14 patients treated within the optimal dose range.
A study published in Nature Communications has identified sialylation as a key mechanism by which breast tumours evade the immune system, leading to limited effectiveness of immunotherapies. Targeting this process may improve the efficacy of these therapies, providing new hope for patients with breast cancer.
Researchers discovered that degrading mutant KRAS protein leads to greater lung cancer regression and more durable antitumor responses than conventional inhibitors. The study also identifies resistance mechanisms distinct from those previously described, offering new insights into targeted protein degradation therapies.
A novel chromosomal instability-based signature, CIN score, guides survival prediction and immunotherapy response in breast cancer. High-CIN scores indicate poorer overall survival and unfavorable clinicopathological features.
A University of Bristol-led pilot trial found that tocilizumab reduced symptoms of depression, fatigue and anxiety in people who had not responded to standard treatments. The study provides early evidence for a new treatment option for patients with inflammation-related depression.
A new study by the University of Southampton has found that reusable catheters are just as safe for patients as single-use ones and do not increase the risk of urinary tract infections. The study followed hundreds of patients for a year and discovered that those who tested reusable catheters used 35 per cent fewer antibiotics.
A new cytokine-armored CAR-T cell therapy has been developed to attack aggressive brain tumors in mice while reducing side effects. The approach recruits the body's immune system using IL-12 and DR-18 proteins, strengthening the anti-cancer response and improving tumor control.
Researchers have developed engineered peptide binders called CRABs that can selectively interfere with calcium signaling pathways, potentially leading to more effective and safer immunotherapies. The study's findings offer new hope for treating disorders linked to excessive CRAC-channel activity.
The LUNA-2 trial will pair immunotherapy with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to boost treatment effectiveness in people with non-small cell lung cancer. If successful, it could provide new treatment options for those living with the disease, helping them live longer and with fewer side effects.
Researchers discovered a new gene expression signature linked to prolonged overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who responded to combined immune checkpoint inhibitors. The biomarker has the potential to help identify patients most likely to benefit from this treatment combination.
A new mRNA-based strategy amplifies the T-cell response to vaccines, enabling more powerful cancer vaccines and stronger protection against infectious diseases. The approach reprograms immune cells from within using mRNA instructions that expand cancer-fighting T cells.
Researchers have developed CRAC channel inhibitory binders that can selectively interfere with STIM-ORAI communication, reducing calcium entry through CRAC channels. This may help restore thrombocyte progenitor production and improve treatment outcomes for Stormorken syndrome patients.
Researchers discovered that mezigdomide can reinvigorate exhausted T cells and enhance immunotherapies. The drug works by degrading key gene regulators Ikaros and Aiolos, which sustain genetic and epigenetic programs keeping T cells in an exhausted state.
Four new OICR-funded studies using CATALYST will advance cancer insights by reanalyzing existing patient samples and data. The initiatives aim to improve cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment by building on previous research.
Researchers at WashU Medicine conducted a clinical trial showing that genetically engineered donor stem cells can prevent toxic side effects and improve treatment options for patients with AML and MDS. The study found that removing the CD33 protein from donor stem cells helped target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.
A recent study reveals that combining iNKT cell therapy with antigen-presenting cells activated by a lipid compound triggers effective antitumor immunity. The therapy generates memory-phenotype T cells that can recognize and respond to specific threats, offering a promising personalized approach to cancer treatment.
Researchers at Mount Sinai have identified a promising new strategy to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. The approach, which restores communication between key immune cells, achieved up to 100% tumor clearance in some models.
Researchers discovered CLCA4 suppresses CSC properties and enhances anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, halting tumor growth and immune suppression in colorectal cancer. CLCA4 overexpression also reshaped the tumor immune microenvironment, sensitizing tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy.
Dr. Aparna Bhaduri receives $750k Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize for her innovative glioblastoma research. Her advanced human organoid models reveal how tumors interact with the immune system and brain cells, driving tumor aggressiveness.
A new study reveals that impaired protein recycling is the key factor in T cell exhaustion, allowing researchers to develop a 'tag and sort' fix to restore normal proteostasis. This approach boosts the potency of cell therapy against cancer.
Researchers developed a highly homogeneous population of stem cell memory T cells that exhibit superior expansion and persistence, enabling complete responses at low doses. The study showed a favorable tolerability profile and demonstrated the separation between beneficial effects and toxic consequences.
Researchers found that tumor genetics alone did not explain which patients responded to combination therapy, but rather the tumor's immune environment. Patients with active networks of cancer-killing T cells were more likely to benefit from treatment, while those with dense clusters of plasma cells were less likely.
A new treatment using low-dose nivolumab injections into precancerous oral lesions significantly reduced lesion size and risk of cancer progression. The study showed a 60% average reduction in lesion size and complete pathologic response in six patients, with no dose-limiting side effects.
Chemokines regulate immune cell infiltration and local immunity in tumors, and targeting their receptor axis has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. Chemokine-modulating strategies combining with other immunotherapies have demonstrated considerable synergistic potential.
A University of Calgary-led study found that multiple myeloma tumour cells adapt in multiple ways to become resistant to treatment, highlighting the need for personalized cancer therapy. The research aims to develop next-generation treatments designed to anticipate and overcome these changes.
Researchers from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center present studies on single-cell technologies, integrative computational approaches, and experimental therapeutics, highlighting innovations in mRNA vaccines and spatial multi-omics techniques. The studies aim to improve immunotherapy responses and detect treatment-resistant glioma cells.
James P. Allison, Ph.D., is recognized for his lifelong commitment to scientific discovery and seminal findings that launched the field of cancer immunotherapy. His work led to the development of ipilimumab, an antibody to human CTLA-4, approved as part of therapeutic regimens for multiple cancer types.
Researchers at OHSU have uncovered that pancreatic tumors co-opt regulatory immune cells, leading to resistance against immunotherapy. A promising strategy involves reprogramming these cells to support anti-tumor activity, potentially making immunotherapy viable for treatment-resistant cancers.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson have made significant advancements in cancer care, including a blood-based biomarker for cancer risk in people with Lynch Syndrome and a new target to sensitize pancreatic tumors to immunotherapy. The studies also identified a strategy to overcome radiation therapy resistance in lung cancer.
Researchers propose tailored approaches using CAR platforms, incorporating effector cells like macrophages and Tregs to modulate key processes in neurodegeneration. High-precision immunomodulation is essential for overcoming the complex nature of these diseases.
Researchers have developed a new single-cell technology called CIPHER-seq that captures the timing of cytokine activity with greater accuracy. This allows for a clearer view of immune cell behavior and strengthens the foundation for understanding cancer, inflammation, and treatment resistance.
A study published in Cancer Research has identified DPY30 as an epigenetic target that can sensitize pancreatic tumors to immunotherapy. By modulating DNA replication stress, DPY30 promotes the addition of activation signals at stressed replication forks, supporting cancer cell survival and proliferation.
The study found that immune checkpoint inhibitors significantly improved key clinical outcomes, including disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. However, no clear improvement in overall survival was observed across studies, highlighting the need for careful patient selection and monitoring.
Scientists discovered how tumors disable dendritic cell function by decreasing their mitochondrial fitness, leading to weakened immune defenses against cancer. Restoring mitochondrial function in dendritic cells improves antitumor immune responses and enhances immunotherapeutic efficacy.
Fábio Rosa's research has enabled genetic reprogramming of various cancer cell types to activate the immune system and bring about their own destruction. His approach uses tools from gene therapy to generate rare and functionally specialized immune cells that trigger powerful anti-tumor responses.
Researchers developed first-in-class dual HIF inhibitors that, when combined with immunotherapy, can completely eliminate breast, colorectal, melanoma, and prostate tumors in mice. The drugs target HIF-1/2 transcription factors, which are key regulators of cancer progression.
Researchers have discovered a tumor biomarker that can predict which gastric cancer patients will benefit from immunotherapy before surgery. The biomarker, tsMHC-II expression, showed strong correlation with treatment response and was easily assessable using standard immunohistochemistry techniques.
Ludwig Lausanne's Ping-Chih Ho has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his distinguished contributions to immune metabolism. His research focuses on elucidating the role of metabolism in anti-tumor immunity and advancing cancer therapy.
Researchers found that combining targeted radiation therapy with BO-112 and anti-PD-1 therapy before surgery activated the immune system to fight cancer. This approach reshaped the tumor microenvironment to support T-cell activity, resulting in fewer cancer cells and a more effective anti-tumor response.
A new study found that the common blood pressure medication telmisartan can significantly enhance the cancer-killing activity of olaparib, potentially expanding its use to many more patients. Telmisartan made tumors more vulnerable to PARP inhibitors, even when they lacked specific DNA repair defects.
Gladstone Institutes has secured over 105,000 square feet of future laboratory space in a newly constructed building, empowering its scientists to create medicines of the future. The new space will be home to approximately 300 scientists across 20 labs, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and computational abilities.
A new study suggests that autoantibodies from Long COVID patients can induce persistent pain-like symptoms in mice, providing evidence for a potential causal role of autoantibodies in the condition. The research also highlights distinct biological subgroups and offers hope for targeted antibody-based therapies.
Researchers discovered VISTA as a critical immune checkpoint that balances immune activation and inflammation resolution during kidney injury. Administering exogenous VISTA protein shows potent protection against acute kidney injury and its progression to chronic disease.
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.
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group has completed enrollment of 600 patients in the phase 2/3 trial EA6141, evaluating dual checkpoint blockade with nivolumab and ipilimumab plus sargramostim for unresectable stage 3 or 4 melanoma. The trial aims to assess overall survival, progression-free survival, and treatment tolerability.
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.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a novel immunotherapy that uses CAR-NKT cell therapy to fight endometrial cancer. The therapy achieved complete tumor elimination and prolonged survival in mouse models, outperforming conventional CAR-T cell therapies.
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 ...
Researchers at Arc Institute and Stanford University found that ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate strengthens CAR T cell fitness and antitumor activity. BHB supplementation improves CAR T cell expansion and tumor killing in mice, mirroring the effects of a ketogenic diet.