Gastrointestinal tumors harbor T cells that recognize patients’ unique tumor antigens
Jun 25, 2019
CCR scientists, lead by Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., have determined that many common gastrointestinal tumors bear mutations capable of eliciting an immune response, suggesting that immunotherapy could be an effective way to treat these common cancers. Read more...
Research shows long noncoding RNA influences expression of key HIV receptor
Jun 24, 2019
New research from the Center for Cancer Research has identified a long noncoding RNA that influences the expression of CCR5, a receptor that HIV uses to infect immune cells. The finding points to the molecule as a potential marker that indicates a patient’s susceptibility to the virus. Read more...
Akt protein kinase pathway regulates key step in the initiation of cilia formation
Jun 13, 2019
CCR investigators have discovered that activating the Akt protein kinase pathway stabilizes the binding of the WDR44 protein to the Rab11 protein. This prevents Rab11 from binding to the Rabin8 protein, thereby blocking cilia formation. When Akt is inactive, though, Rab11 instead is bound by FIP3, enhancing its binding to Rabin8, which helps initiate cilia formation. Since abnormalities in cilia formation are associated with a number of types of cancer, these findings point to several potential targets for cancer therapy. Read more...
Bacterial compound targets cancer-promoting RNA
Jun 10, 2019
Screening more than 3,000 natural products identified a compound that stops the growth of cancer cells by targeting a growth-promoting microRNA. Read more...
Cyclophosphamide works in an unexpected way to curb graft-vs-host disease in mice
May 7, 2019
For years it has been assumed that cyclophosphamide helps reduce the severity of graft-versus-host disease by eliminating alloreactive T cells, but new evidence reveals a different reason. Read more...
Majority of patients with advanced multiple myeloma respond to CAR T-cell therapy targeting an anti-B-cell maturation antigen in a phase I trial
May 2, 2019
A phase I clinical trial of 33 patients infused with a CAR T-cell therapy using T cells genetically engineered to express an anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR showed that 85 percent of patients had the burden of their advanced multiple myeloma cut by half or more. Read more...
Heritable mutations may indicate responsiveness to platinum chemotherapy in malignant mesothelioma
May 1, 2019
In a genetic analysis of 434 patients with malignant mesothelioma who had undergone platinum chemotherapy, those who carried heritable mutations in BAP1and other DNA repair genes had significantly longer overall survival than those without these mutations. The findings hint at personalized approaches to the disease. Read more...
Envelope glycoprotein mutations allow HIV-1 to escape antiretroviral therapy in a lab-based study
Apr 12, 2019
CCR investigators have discovered that HIV-1 can compensate for a variety of mutations that block its replication by acquiring mutations in the envelope glycoprotein. Because antiretroviral therapies work by inhibiting viral replication, these findings may have implications for HIV-1 drug resistance. Read more...
MEK inhibitor selumetinib granted breakthrough designation by FDA to treat neurofibromatosis type 1 in pediatric patients
Apr 12, 2019
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week granted breakthrough therapy designation for the MEK 1/2 inhibitor selumetinib. The designation is for the treatment of pediatric patients aged three years and older with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) symptomatic and/or progressive, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN), a rare, incurable genetic condition. Read more...
Harnessing T-cell “stemness” could enhance cancer immunotherapy
Mar 28, 2019
A new study led by Nicholas Restifo, M.D., Senior Investigator in CCR’s Surgery Branch, sheds light on one way tumors may continue to grow despite the presence of cancer-killing immune cells. The findings, published March 29, 2019, in Science, suggest a way to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies for cancer treatment. Read more...