Plasma B cells, which move through the body releasing antibodies, are an important component of the body’s fight against viral infections and other invaders. They are relatively rare, however, and increasing their ranks is a major goal of vaccination. However, scientists do not yet fully understand how precursor cells are selected either to enter the...
Category: <span>Immunology</span>
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Beyond PD-L1: Taking away TIM3 and Tregs stops cancer regrowth after immunotherapy
Radiation treatment can boost the effectiveness of anti-cancer immunotherapy. Still, some patients fail to respond to this combination, and while the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy is very good at creating remission, it’s not very good at sustaining it. Now a University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research...
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Cancer protein could point to new targets for treatment
Using x-ray crystallography, researchers have uncovered an unexpected mode of action for a protein commonly mutated in cancer cells. Credit: Shokat Lab/HHMI/UCSF A new view of a protein frequently mutated in pituitary tumors is overturning conventional wisdom and could point to novel targets for cancer drugs. The protein, a “G protein” called Gαs, initiates messages...
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Engineering innate immunity for therapy
The immune system defends our body against pathogens and cancerous cells, but excessive immunity can, in turn, lead to tissue damages and diseases. For example, scratching the surface of the eye ignites an immune response that aims at preventing infection but can also lead to edema, angiogenesis and eventually loss of sight. By regulating the...
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Researchers are one step closer to an effective anti-atherosclerosis vaccine
As the cardiovascular disease progresses, the proportion of protective Tregs decreases. Credit: Dr. Klaus Ley, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology In the disease atherosclerosis, cholesterol-containing plaques form in vessel walls, causing arteries to narrow and greatly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Currently, atherosclerosis is the number 1 killer worldwide, just...
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Bad antibodies made good: The immune system’s secret weapon uncovered
The ‘bad apples’ of the immune system are also its secret weapon, according to major Australian research published today in the world-leading journal Science. In a world first, scientists from Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research have revealed how a population of ‘bad’ antibodies in the immune system – which are usually ‘silenced’ because they can...
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Technology holds personalised cancer vaccine breakthrough
The attack of a tumor cell made by white blood cells of the patient (lymphocytes) generated by cancer vaccines. Credit: University of Queensland University of Queensland researchers have developed a vaccine delivery technology that enables treatment to be tailored precisely for different cancers. UQ’s Professor Ranjeny Thomas said the technology had the potential to improve...
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The ‘immuno revolution’: Turning up the heat on resistant tumors
A promising class of drugs known as CD40 monoclonal antibodies could be the spark needed to light the fire in the immune system of patients who don’t respond to the newer cancer immunotherapies. Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania and an internationally renowned cancer immunotherapy expert, makes...
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The Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Cancer, Immunity, and Cancer Immunotherapy
The microbiome is receiving significant attention given its influence on a host of human diseases including cancer. Its role in response to cancer treatment is becoming increasingly apparent, with evidence suggesting that modulating the gut microbiome may affect responses to numerous forms of cancer therapy. A working knowledge of the microbiome is vital as we...
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New immunotherapy for lung cancer shows promise of success
In a groundbreaking development, results from a recent clinical trial to treat lung cancer show that a novel immunotherapy combination is surprisingly effective at controlling the disease’s progression. The study, published April 4 in the journal The Lancet Oncology, focused on non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common form of lung cancer. IMAGE: In...