Rice and Neal Cancer Center award seed grants for translational cancer research
Grant and Award Announcement
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Oct-2026 22:16 ET (28-Oct-2026 02:16 GMT/UTC)
In a new study published today in Nature, researchers describe a new strategy to make stem cell transplants safer by replacing chemotherapy-based treatment with a more targeted approach. Instead of using toxic agents that damage DNA throughout the body, they use antibodies that recognize specific markers on blood-forming stem cells. These antibodies can help clear the patient’s existing stem cells from the bone marrow in a more selective, less toxic way.
A new platform developed by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center quickly finds and isolates rare, tumor-reactive immune cells that are especially good at recognizing and attacking cancer cells, even without knowing which tumor targets are recognized by the immune cells. This approach addresses a major bottleneck in immunotherapy development and could potentially accelerate the creation of personalized treatments.
Immune checkpoints (ICs) are receptors that regulate immune responses through both activating and inhibitory mechanisms. Inflammatory microenvironment modulates IC expression through cytokines, metabolites, and oxidative signals. Immune checkpoint inhibitors not only enhance antitumor immunity but also reshape systemic immune networks. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ICs regulate inflammatory responses and highlights their roles across diverse pathological conditions.