Researchers found that one’s immune system can re-engage to destroy tumors after combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy in mice.
Chemotherapy remains the first-line approach for the treatment of solid tumors. It is based on the cytotoxic activity on rapidly dividing cells, but adverse effects are seen on healthy cells that also rapidly divide, such as the intestinal mucosal lining, and hair follicles.
An independent publication cites the use of HemaCare-sourced PBMC as starting material for an assay designed to screen for factors that enhance anti-tumor cytotoxic T cell activity. [1]
The paper, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature, reports the study results of a scientific team working at Novartis in San Diego. Their goal is to develop a discovery platform that more closely mimics the in-vivo tumor microenvironment.
Cryptococcus fungi infections can be fatal as the immune system struggles to fight off the invaders, but through immunotherapy called CAR T cell therapy, researchers are seeing positive results.
Cryptococcosis, a systemic fungal infection, is caused by the polysaccharide encapsulated yeasts Cryptococcus gatti and Cryptococcus neoformans. The disease can cause pneumonia and meningitis, as well as pathology in other tissues.
A report out of Nature Communications suggests a correlation between the use of low TMB and an increased survival rate among glioblastoma patients may be due to changes in the immunological status of tumor post therapy.
Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is the frequency of certain protein (tumor antigen)-altering mutations within tumor genes. The production of more tumor antigens increases the chances that one or more of those can be recognized and reacted upon by the immune system. Highly mutated tumors produce many antigens that can stimulate T cells to respond to the antigens.
A study showed that patients who have received immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer can get more than one immune relative side effect.
The most common form of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is divided into four stages, depending on the lung tumor’s size and location(s). Surgery and chemotherapy are common approaches to treatment, but newer approaches such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy provide promising survival benefits for patients with NSCLC.