Immune environments in most tongue cancer tumors help identify cases for effective treatment, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. By profiling immune cell presence and activity in tumor samples from 87 patients, they identified five immunotypes, with most patients categorized in these immunotypes featuring low immune engagement. These findings explain why immune checkpoint inhibitors prove inefficacious in tongue cancer and suggest that immune-based classification could better guide personalized treatment strategies.

Yang et al. discovered FuHsi, a novel lncRNA-encoded nucleolar protein that regulates rDNA transcription and drives tumor progression. This study unveils a new layer of rDNA transcription and nucleolar biogenesis, potentially offering therapeutic targets for cancer and related diseases.

A new dual-targeting CAR-T-based immunotherapy against B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia proves effective against immune escape and relapse in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The new approach, developed by researchers at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and Hospital 12 de Octubre – CNIO, combines a CD22 CAR-T construct with the secretion of a T-cell engager targeting CD19, able to recruit bystander T-cells to fight against cancer cells cooperatively.

A groundbreaking study published in MedComm-Oncology reveals the critical role of adenosine phosphate signaling in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) and enhancing antitumor immunity. Led by researchers from Central South University, the study identifies distinct signaling subtypes in melanoma and develops a novel predictive model, APsig, which correlates with improved survival and responsiveness to immunotherapy. Through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses, the team uncovers how this signaling pathway activates myeloid cells to drive antigen presentation, offering new targets for combination therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

T cells exhibit remarkable plasticity in the tumor microenvironment (TME), dynamically adapting their phenotypes and functions to influence cancer progression and treatment responses. A new review published in MedComm-Oncology systematically dissects the mechanisms underlying T-cell plasticity, including spatial distribution, metabolic reprogramming, and interactions with TME components. The study highlights how targeting T-cell plasticity could revolutionize cancer therapy by enhancing immunotherapy efficacy and overcoming treatment resistance.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers are leading four studies with compelling and potentially practice changing results in colorectal cancer and breast cancer.

Investigators will also present clinical trial results that support future research into new strategies for the treatment of rare and aggressive forms of cancer and new approaches to de-escalate treatment and improve quality of life.