Cancer Research Institute (CRI)

According to a new publication in JAMA Network Open, cervical cancer deaths in women younger than 25 have plummeted by 62% in recent years, thanks to the HPV vaccine. “Cervical cancer elimination is possible in the next decades if vaccination and screening are widely implemented, and high participation rates can be achieved,” emphasizes Dr. Nicolas Wentzensen, deputy director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s clinical genetics branch and a co-author of the paper. More in The Washington Post: https://wapo.st/3ZHTu69 #HPV #CervicalCancer #CancerResearch #CancerVaccine

Did you know? 45% of newly diagnosed cancer patients are now eligible for immunotherapy. Help us bring the promise of immunotherapy to more patients by donating now to unlock new breakthroughs in cancer research. Amplify your impact in 2024 by making your tax-deductible gift by December 31: https://bit.ly/3APwsRc #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #CancerResearcher

In a new study, scientists at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, including CRI Scientific Advisory Council member Dr. Susan Kaech and former CRI Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Shixin Ma, observed how a nutritional switch from acetate to citrate plays a key role in determining T cell fates, shifting them from active effector cells to exhausted cells. Their discovery highlights how metabolic changes influence T cell identity, and opens avenues for interventions to sustain immune function. “You know the saying, ‘You are what you eat?’ Well, we uncovered a way in which this actually operates in cells,” says Dr. Kaech, senior author of the study. “This is really exciting on two levels: on a fundamental level, our findings show that a cell’s function can be directly linked to its nutrition; on a more specific level, this sheds new light on how T cells become dysfunctional or exhausted and what we could do to prevent that.” Explore: https://bit.ly/3Pfxeux #CancerResearch

The field of cancer immunotherapy is evolving at lightning speed, with groundbreaking discoveries unfolding in labs, clinics, and conferences around the world. That's why we're launching CRI's IO Insights, a monthly email newsletter delivering the latest breakthroughs, approvals, and trends shaping the future of immunotherapy. Learn more about this new series, and sign up today to start receiving accurate, expertly curated updates you can trust, in your inbox: https://bit.ly/3P1VHDp #Immunotherapy #CancerResearch #IOInsights

The Cancer Research Institute’s focus on the immune system has resulted in millions of lives saved worldwide, and with your help, we promise to save the lives of millions more. Unlock new immunotherapy breakthroughs, and spread hope to cancer patients everywhere, by making a gift today: https://bit.ly/3APwsRc #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy

From lack of insurance, to challenges securing reliable transportation, or workplace shortages in the healthcare industry, several factors can create difficulties in bringing cancer immunotherapy access and treatment to rural and remote communities. How can clinicians help overcome these barriers? "Fostering collaborations with local healthcare providers and providing information through trusted and respected channels within each community can help bridge the gap in healthcare disparities and improve outcomes in underserved regions," emphasizes CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Dr. Iliyan Iliev at Weill Cornell Medicine. Hear how several CRI-funded researchers believe we can bridge the gap, in our latest blog post: https://bit.ly/401jidO #HealthEquity #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy

29 cancers are now treatable with immunotherapy, thanks to the work of the Cancer Research Institute. Join us in spreading hope, and transforming the lives of cancer patients and their families, on a global scale. Give today for a world immune to cancer: https://bit.ly/3APwsRc #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy

Can diet affect responses to CAR T cell treatment? According to a study from researchers at Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, including co-senior author, CRI CLIP Investigator Dr. Marco Ruella, "a simple dietary supplement may provide a new approach to boost CAR T cell function." While this approach still needs to be assessed in clinical trials, University of Pennsylvania describes, "the early research...hints at a potentially cost-effective strategy to improve CAR T cell function and cancer-fighting abilities." Learn more: https://bit.ly/41skBUa #Keto #ClinicalTrial #Immunotherapy

In a new publication, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including CRI Scientific Advisory Council member Dr. Darrell Irvine and former CRI Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Stefani Spranger, analyzed antigen expression patterns and associated T cell responses in order to better understand why patients with heterogenous tumors respond poorly to ICB therapies. "In addition to identifying specific antigen architectures that determine how immune systems respond to tumors, the team developed an RNA-based vaccine that, when combined with ICB therapies, was effective at controlling tumors in mouse models of lung cancer," MIT describes. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZkVwZH #LungCancer #CancerVaccine #CancerResearch

Cells within our body are exposed to countless environmental factors, and respond to them efficiently to maintain good health. This is particularly crucial for T cells, which are both fighting infections (effector T cells) and regulating immune overreactions (regulatory T cells). How do the T cells adapt to a changing environment while maintaining their unique identity? New research from CRI Lloyd J. Old STARs Dr. Alexander Marson of Gladstone Institutes and University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Ansuman Satpathy of Stanford University identifies specific factors that control T cells’ resting and activated states. The researchers focused on IL-2Rα, a common marker abundantly present in both effector T cells and regulatory T cells. Using CRISPR genome editing, they identified regulatory molecules that control expression of IL-2Rα and found that even though IL-2Rα was present in both types of T cells, about 90% of the regulators controlling its expression varied across cell types or stimulatory states. Researchers further identified a protein, MED12, which controls the different regulators in different T cells, guiding who will be in the driving seat in each cell type. They uncovered how MED12 brings about these changes on a genetic level, and the underlying process of gene control. “Our study provides insights into the important role of MED12 and helps explain how T cells coordinate their distinct functions,” describes Dr. Marson. “A deeper understanding of this mechanism could ultimately help us engineer more effective immunotherapies.” Discover: https://lnkd.in/ei3C-65m #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #CRISPR