Combination treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and ipilimumab demonstrates overall survival for patients with melanoma that has spread to the brain, according to Phase II study results published today in The Lancet Oncology by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Tag: immunotheraphy
Studies Find B7-H3 Protein a Novel, Promising Target for Prostate Cancer Treatments
The immune checkpoint protein B7-H3 may be a promising new target for immunotherapy in treatment-resistant prostate cancers, according to two new studies led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The studies were presented recently at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2021 Conference.
Immunotherapy may be effective for subset of prostate cancer
Researchers report that about a quarter of localized prostate cancers may demonstrate immunologic traits that suggest a substantial number of patients with prostate cancer may benefit from immunotherapies.
Roswell Park, Wilmot Cancer Institute Collaborate on First Large Study of Immunotherapy in Black Cancer Patients
A new collaboration between two Western New York cancer research leaders will help oncologists learn whether Black and white cancer patients respond differently to a game-changing immunotherapy treatment, and seeks to improve the safety and effectiveness of these newer drugs in diverse populations.
Atlantic Health System Physicians Co-Author 5 Studies, Presented at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
Atlantic Health System Cancer Care physicians are co-authors of five original studies presented at this year’s AACR Annual Meeting, held virtually April 10-15 and May 17-21. The AACR meeting is one of the world’s premier scientific gatherings of cancer specialists and researchers.

A clue to how some fast-growing tumors hide in plain sight
Viruses churn out genetic material in parts of the cell where it’s not supposed to be. Cancer cells do too. A new study shows that a tumor-suppressor enzyme called DAPK3 is an essential component of a multi-protein system that senses misplaced genetic material in tumor cells, and slows tumor growth by activating the fierce-sounding STING pathway.
Ludwig Cancer Research Study Uncovers Metabolic Vulnerability in Suppressive Immune Cells That May Be Targeted for Cancer Immunotherapy
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a novel mechanism by which a type of cancer immunotherapy known as CTLA-4 blockade can disable suppressive immune cells to aid the destruction of certain tumors.

New immunotherapy target discovered for malignant brain tumors
Scientists say they have discovered a potential new target for immunotherapy of malignant brain tumors, which so far have resisted the ground-breaking cancer treatment based on harnessing the body’s immune system. The discovery, reported in the journal CELL, emerged from laboratory experiments and has no immediate implications for treating patients.
CRISPR-edited CAR T Cells Enhance Fight Against Blood Cancers
Knocking out a protein known to stifle T cell activation on CAR T cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology enhanced the engineered T cells’ ability to eliminate blood cancers.

Activating “Inflammasome” May Improve Cancer’s Response To Immunotherapy And Parp Inhibitors
The inflammasome—a protein signaling network that is activated to rid the body of virus or bacteria-infected cells—may play an important role in triggering an immune response to cancer and causing an existing class of drugs to work better against cancers.
Houston Methodist using 3D technology, artificial intelligence and more in new breast cancer research studies
Trials include a model to create custom breast implants, a smarter method to recommend biopsy, a novel approach to preserve sensation in implant-based breast reconstruction, and a new clinical trial investigating a modified herpes virus as a tactic to trigger immune response.

Effective Cancer Immunotherapy Further Linked To Regulating A Cell ‘Suicide’ Gene
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have added to evidence that a gene responsible for turning off a cell’s natural “suicide” signals may also be the culprit in making breast cancer and melanoma cells resistant to therapies that use the immune system to fight cancer. A summary of the research, conducted with mice and human cells, appeared Aug. 25 in Cell Reports.

Three Women Scientists at Johns Hopkins Tapped to Join Exclusive Research Network
Three Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists are among the first 45 members selected to join the 10x Genomics Visium Clinical Translational Research Network (CTRN), aimed at advancing translational research in some of the world’s leading health problems, including oncology, immuno-oncology, neuroscience, infectious disease, inflammation and fibrosis, and COVID-19.

Combination biomarker predicts response to immune checkpoint therapy in patients with advanced bladder cancer
A combination of two biomarkers was predictive of improved clinical responses and prolonged survival following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced bladder cancers.

Immunotherapy effective in metastatic prostate cancers with specific markers of immune activation
A subset of patients with metastatic prostate cancer and specific markers of immune activity responded well to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to results of a Phase II trial.

Roswell Park’s Dr. Pawel Kalinski to Lead $14.5M NCI-Funded Immunotherapy Effort
A team led by Pawel Kalinski, MD, PhD, of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has earned a five-year, $14.54 million award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to expand a promising immunotherapy platform. Funded through the NCI’s Program Project Grant program, this prestigious five-year grant will fund five clinical trials, all focused on a strategy for making some of the most common immunotherapies work for more cancer patients.

Immunotherapy using ‘young cells’ offers promising option against cancer
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that the age of certain immune cells used in immunotherapy plays a role in how effective it is. These cells — natural killer (NK) cells — appear to be more effective the earlier they are in development, opening the door to the possibility of an immunotherapy that would not utilize cells from the patient or a matched donor. Instead, they could be developed from existing supplies of what are called human pluripotent stem cells.

Pembrolizumab shows promise for some advanced, hard-to-treat rare cancers
Pembrolizumab shows promise for some advanced, hard-to-treat rare cancers. Open-label Phase II study at MD Anderson reports on four cancer types.

TARGETING TURNCOAT IMMUNE CELLS TO TREAT CANCER
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a mechanism by which regulatory T cells, which suppress immune responses, adapt their metabolism to thrive in the harsh microenvironment of the tumor.
Tip Sheet: Tracking coronavirus, improving immunotherapies, cancer death rates decline, AAAS meeting and more
Summaries of recent Fred Hutch research studies, plus information on a press event at the upcoming AAAS annual meeting in Seattle.
Building a Safer CAR-T Therapy
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has devised a new type of chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) T cell—a family of promising immunotherapies for cancer—that can be switched on and off on demand.
GW Cancer Center Expands Clinical Trial Offerings for Patients with High Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The Cutaneous Oncology Program at the GW Cancer Center was selected as the first global site for a clinical trial for patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The study, sponsored by Regeneron, will examine outcomes for patients treated with Libtayo® (cemiplimab) — an immunotherapy treatment — prior to surgery and radiation therapy.

John Theurer Cancer Center Participating in Early-Phase Study of Immunotherapy-Boosting Treatment
Investigators at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey are participating in a first-in-patients clinical trial assessing VE800, a novel bacteria-containing therapy, in combination with the immunotherapy drug nivolumab. Laboratory research has suggested that VE800 may enhance the effectiveness of drugs like nivolumab.

Scientists show thin metal mesh loaded with T cells shrinks solid tumors
Within weeks, CAR T cells targeting ovarian cancer cleared tumors in 70% of treated mice, shows study in Nature Biomedical Engineering. (Note: Images available for media use).
Study Examines Kidney Injury in Patients Taking Immunotherapy Cancer Medications
In patients taking immune checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment for cancer, 17% experienced acute kidney injury (AKI), 8% experienced sustained AKI, and 3% had potential immune checkpoint inhibitor–related AKI.
• Use of proton pump inhibitors, which are commonly used to treat stomach ulcers or acid reflux, was associated with a higher risk of experiencing sustained AKI.

NUS scientist designs ‘express courier service’ for immune cells
Dr Andy Tay, a researcher with the National University of Singapore (NUS) who is currently doing his post-doctoral training at Stanford University, has successfully invented a novel transfection method to deliver DNA into immune cells with minimal stress on these cells. This new technique is expected to boost DNA-based cancer immunotherapy by significantly improving the process of generating high-quality genetically modified immune cells.