In the current study, published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Cheng and his colleagues created an exosome system that co-displays two therapeutic proteins to treat lung metastases. One protein blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway, a process that has been shown to boost the immune response against melanoma cells and shrink tumors. The other protein blocks the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway that drives immune exclusion in tumors, a phenomenon where immune cells are unable to infiltrate tumor tissues. 

A new multi-state project, led in part by Marvella Ford, Ph.D., at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and funded by Stand Up To Cancer, is testing an innovative patient-navigation model to increase lung cancer screening among Black adults in the Southeast – a group disproportionately affected by lung cancer and underrepresented in screening trials. Through partnerships with federally qualified health centers, clinic staff identify eligible patients and connect them with trained navigators who help them overcome barriers such as transportation, cost and difficulty completing electronic forms. Early results from the program, called the Southeastern Consortium for Lung Cancer Screening (SC3), show strong engagement: 170 Black adults have enrolled so far, all receiving personalized support to complete lung cancer screening. The researchers say the community-driven model could serve as a national blueprint for improving early cancer detection and reducing health disparities.