A recent study led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identifies two different regulatory T cell populations, one related to autoimmunity and the other to protective immunity. The findings could pave the way for new treatments that target the immune system selectively.
A new PET/CT scanner prototype has shown promising results in preclinical testing, offering higher resolution and accurate tumor assessment. The scanner aims to enhance treatment planning for head and neck cancers, which have a low five-year survival rate and high recurrence rate.
Researchers found that immunotherapy can activate tumor-fighting T cells in nearby lymph nodes, potentially boosting efficacy against solid tumors. The study suggests leaving lymph nodes intact until after immunotherapy could improve treatment outcomes for patients with head and neck cancers.
Researchers tracked the lifecycle and function of tingible body macrophages, specialized cells that clean up the immune system's waste, in a significant breakthrough. The study sheds light on autoimmune disorders like lupus by understanding the role of these cells in triggering autoimmunity.
Ultrafast MRI provides beneficial information for predicting DCIS upgrade to invasive cancer, including time to enhancement and lesion size. A study found that UF-MRI can accurately predict lesions diagnosed as DCIS at percutaneous biopsy that will be upgraded to invasive cancer at surgery.
As we age, fat cells replace immune system tissue in lymph nodes, impairing their ability to fight infections and respond to vaccinations. This phenomenon, known as lymph node lipomatosis, is more common and prevalent with age, affecting the effectiveness of our immune system.
A nationwide retrospective study showed that adjuvant chemotherapy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery significantly improved overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, regardless of lymph node status or resection margins. The study included nearly 900 patients and was published in JAMA Oncology.
Researchers found that HER2-positive breast cancer patients with high levels of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in residual disease have significantly shorter overall survival. High levels of TILs are associated with poorer outcomes, while lower levels are linked to improved survival rates.
Researchers at CU Anschutz Medical Campus found that irradiating only select lymph nodes near a tumor can significantly decrease cancer recurrence and improve patient outcomes. This approach eliminates the source of immune cells for immunotherapy to work on, but preserving long-term systemic immune response.
Research at Tel Aviv University found that high-intensity aerobic exercise increases glucose consumption in internal organs, reducing energy availability for tumors. The study reduced the risk of metastatic cancer in humans and animal models by up to 72%.
A large clinical trial data analysis found that rates of locoregional recurrence are low regardless of regional node irradiation use. The study suggests a randomized clinical trial is required to answer the question of whether favorable-risk patients can safely skip RNI.
Researchers have developed a deep learning algorithm that can accurately assess the stage of head and neck cancer using standard CT scans, outperforming expert radiologists. The algorithm demonstrated superior accuracy in measuring the extent of cancer spread, especially for patients with high-risk disease.
Interdisciplinary researchers at the Beckman Institute have received a four-year, $2M award from the National Institutes of Health to develop a device that can instantly enable real-time 3D ultrasound imaging. The device, named FASTER, is designed to improve high-quality medical imaging accessibility in diverse communities.
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a novel cancer therapy combining lymphatic drug delivery with total-body irradiation, showing superior antitumor effects in early stage lymph node metastasis. The treatment enhances systemic tumor immune responses and alters the tumor microenvironment.
A research team led by Professor Wolfgang Kastenmüller has discovered that unconventional T cells play a crucial role in triggering site-specific immunity in distinct lymph nodes. The study reveals that different subtypes of unconventional T cells migrate to specific lymph nodes, influencing the immune responses there.
Researchers identified high-risk patients with stage 3A disease and microscopic lymph node metastases who would benefit from adjuvant therapy. Patients with larger metastases had poorer outcomes, while those with smaller metastases had better survival rates similar to stage 1A disease.
A study by Cedars-Sinai researchers confirms that counting metastatic lymph nodes is a dominant predictor of cancer death, improving staging and treatment for solid tumors. The simple process can be applied in virtually all medical settings without increased cost or complexity.
This study shows how specific brain regions control the immune response during acute stress, highlighting the detrimental effect on fighting off infection. Researchers found that acute stress prompts a major migration of immune cells, diminishing an immune response to viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.
A study published in AJR found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination-induced axillary lymphadenopathy resolves after a mean of 97 days. Longer resolution times were observed with Moderna vaccination, receipt of second doses, and thicker cortical thickness at presentation.
Researchers found that targeting both tumor and lymph node microenvironments with nanomedicine improves treatment response for metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Long-term tumor remission was achieved in mice models using nanoparticles to deliver immune-modulating drugs.
Researchers developed a soft robotic sleeve controlled with a microfluidic chip that reduces treatment cost, weight, and power consumption for lymphedema treatment. The device promotes fluid flow in the lymphatic system by sequentially inflating balloons and pushing fluid upwards.
Researchers discovered that aging lymph nodes near the skin deteriorate faster than those deeper in the body, compromising the immune response. This can lead to weakened immunity against skin infections, vaccinations, and even skin cancers.
The study found significant heterogeneity among non-hematopoietic cells (NHCs) in human lymph nodes, with subgroups exhibiting distinct transcriptional changes and interaction patterns with malignant cells. This discovery may lead to the identification of potential biomarkers for therapeutic approaches.
Researchers found that adjuvant radiation therapy compared to early salvage therapy reduced mortality risk in men with pN1 prostate cancer. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, showed a 8% decrease in mortality for each additional positive pelvic lymph node found at surgery.
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute create functional lymphoid follicles on a chip, replicating human immune responses and predicting vaccine efficacy. The discovery offers a new tool to model the complex choreography of human immune responses to infection and vaccination.
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.
Melanoma referral centers worldwide have adopted systemic therapies to treat high-risk melanoma, reducing the need for lymph node removal surgeries. The shift in treatment plans was driven by rapid adoption of effective treatments and a desire to avoid lifelong complications of surgery.
Researchers tracked antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination and found that antibodies improve in quality for months after vaccination. Even low levels of antibodies provide some protection as long as the virus doesn't change.
Melanoma cells release small packages containing the protein NGFR, which primes nearby lymph nodes to form new vessels and encourage cancer spread. This process, called lymphangiogenesis, may help doctors determine which patients need more aggressive treatment.
A new study reveals that mRNA vaccines activate a type of helper cell called T follicular helper cells, which assist in creating powerful antibodies and drive the development of immune memory. This strong response helps prevent severe disease and death, even against highly mutated variants like omicron.
A recent study has found that Black women are significantly more likely to develop lymphedema following breast cancer treatment compared to white women. The study, which analyzed data from 304 breast cancer patients, also found that Hispanic women had a higher risk of developing the condition.
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and MIT have discovered a new adjuvant called SMNP, which combines saponin and TLR agonist to boost the protective power of vaccines. The study found that SMNP triggers a strong immune response in mice, promoting lymphatic drainage and activating multiple parts of the immune system.
Researchers found that certain T cells stop working before entering the tumor due to changes in gene expression, making ICB therapies less effective. Combining ICB with other forms of immunotherapy targeting different aspects of T cell function may improve response rates for non-small cell lung cancer patients.
A novel population of long-lived T cells, called 'lymph node resident memory T cells,' provides protection against melanoma by persisting in lymph nodes. These cells were found to counteract melanoma spreading in mice and predicted better outcomes for human melanoma patients with lymph node metastases.
CD8+ T cell priming in the spleen generates long-lived, stem-like memory T cells with enhanced ability to differentiate into T effector cells. Spleen-primed T cells have superior capacity to respond to rechallenge infection and expand into infection-fighting T effector cells.
Researchers discovered that stem-like T cells in nearby lymph nodes can resupply and refresh the immune system's attack on tumors, potentially slowing cancer growth. The study supports the development of therapies targeting these cells to improve immunotherapy responses.
Researchers found that cancer cells in lymph nodes avoid immune destruction due to increased physical forces causing impairment of T cell entry. Alleviating solid stress with losartan boosts blood vessels and T cells, suggesting a potential strategy to improve immune responses.
A retrospective study found increased axillary lymph node uptake on PET scans after COVID-19 vaccination, affecting 7.4% of FDG and 23.1% of 11C-choline PET examinations. Ipsilateral deltoid uptake was also observed in 14.5% of examinations.
A novel blood-based test has been developed to identify individuals with lymph node metastasis associated with high-risk T1 colorectal cancer, potentially avoiding unnecessary colon surgery. The test demonstrated high accuracy in detecting lymph node metastasis, exceeding expectations.
A new lymph node collection kit has been shown to improve long-term survival after curative-intent lung cancer surgery. The kit helps surgeons attain complete resection by improving pathologic nodal evaluation, leading to a significant increase in R0 resections and reduction in non-examination of lymph nodes.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health discovered that sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) levels in lymph nodes increase as the immune response mounts, leading to inflammation and damage. This finding could lead to better drugs used to fight inflammation, such as medications already approved for inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.
Radiologists at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed an approach to manage swollen lymph nodes on mammograms in women who have recently received COVID-19 vaccinations. The approach aims to reduce delays in vaccinations and breast cancer diagnoses while reassuring patients that the swelling is a normal response to vaccination.
Researchers have identified certain features of a patient's tumor that can predict whether axillary lymph node dissection is necessary, sparing women from disabling arm swelling. A UCLA study found over 40% of women with lymph node involvement at diagnosis have only 1-3 positive nodes at surgery.
Researchers at WashU Medicine developed an approach to assess vaccine activation in lymph nodes, showing that the flu vaccine can elicit antibodies protecting against a broad range of flu viruses. The findings could aid in designing an improved flu vaccine providing protection against old and new strains.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered that pigs can grow a new liver in their lymph nodes, which could potentially treat various liver diseases. The study found that large animals with damaged livers can regenerate hepatocytes, forming an ectopic liver that takes over liver functions.
A novel acidic niche in lymph nodes regulates T cell activation, suppressing effector functions that could damage the system. The findings highlight the importance of localized acidosis in shaping T cell biology.
Researchers have uncovered how immune cells use chemical signals to navigate to the lymph nodes, where they help combat harmful bacteria and viruses. This discovery may pave the way for new treatments and a better understanding of why the immune system sometimes fails.
Researchers developed a novel photoacoustic imaging method using clinically-approved carbon nanoparticles to trace lymph nodes and guide fine needle aspiration biopsies. The technique improved image quality and accuracy for breast cancer staging, offering a promising alternative to existing methods.
A new study reveals that lymph node and distant metastases develop through different evolutionary mechanisms, with lymph nodes being a genetically highly diverse group. This suggests that metastasis formation in locoregional lymph nodes is comparatively easy and can be achieved by many cells, whereas dissemination to and outgrowth in d...
Dendritic cells can be labeled using an engineered sugar molecule that is taken up by the cells and displayed on their surfaces, allowing them to track DCs in vivo. The researchers also developed a system to modulate the behavior of DCs via click chemistry, which has great promise for treating cancer and other diseases.
Researchers mapped lymph node lymphatic vessels in mice and humans at the individual cell level, discovering five distinct groups of cells with similar functions. The study provides valuable insights into immune system function and will aid in developing new treatments for viral diseases and cancer.
The American Thoracic Society has published its first official guidelines for diagnosing sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease affecting the lungs and other organs. The guidelines recommend a baseline serum test to screen for hypercalcemia, as well as conditional tests for specific symptoms and organ involvement.
Researchers discovered that tumors in lymph nodes are distinct from solid tumors, with a unique pattern of branching and signaling pathways. They identified VEGF-C as the primary driver of angiogenesis in early stages of lymphoma, which can be targeted to slow tumor growth.
Jason Gleghorn is developing microfluidic devices to culture entire lymph nodes outside the body, enabling real-time study of cell behavior. The project aims to understand chronic infection and inflammation, as well as drug delivery strategies for chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapies.
Scientists uncover how lymph nodes' development is controlled by the Hippo pathway, shedding light on their role in regulating immune responses. The research found that impaired Hippo signaling can lead to fibrosis or transformation of fat cells, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for diseases affecting systemic immunity.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new clinical guideline for the use of radiation therapy in treating basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The guideline provides recommendations on when to use radiation as stand-alone therapy or following surgery, as well as dosing and fractionation schedules.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a sound-based treatment that delivers anticancer drugs to lymph nodes affected by breast cancer metastases. The technique involves injecting vesicles carrying drugs into the nodes, which rupture when exposed to high-power ultrasound, releasing the medication.
A study by Yale University found that sentinel lymph node biopsies do not reduce the risk of death from breast cancer or decrease invasive cancer development in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer. The procedure also increases the risk of pain, wound infection, and lymphedema.
This study reveals how sphingosine-1-phosphate positively influences high endothelial venule function and integrity in lymph nodes. Dendritic cell localization and vascular integrity are maintained through S1P-signalling, ensuring proper immune response and tolerance.
Researchers developed new prediction models to improve personalized treatment of lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. The models show that up to one in three operations could be avoided, reducing surgical interventions by 30%.