Immunology
Decades after a small breast cancer vaccine trial, researchers link lasting immune memory to CD27
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More than 20 years after a small Duke-led clinical trial tested an experimental breast cancer vaccine, Duke Health says all participating women are still alive—an outcome researchers describe as unusual for metastatic disease. Follow-up analyses found long-lived immune cells marked by CD27, and mouse experiments suggest that stimulating CD27 can boost vaccine-driven tumor control.
A new study reveals that chemotherapy's damage to the gut lining unexpectedly rewires the microbiota, producing a compound that strengthens immune defenses against cancer spread. This process reduces immunosuppressive cells and enhances resistance to metastasis, particularly in the liver. Patient data links higher levels of this compound to improved survival in colorectal cancer cases.
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Researchers have developed a genomic mapping technique that reveals how thousands of genes work together to influence disease risk, helping to bridge gaps left by traditional genetic studies. The approach, described in a Nature paper led by Gladstone Institutes and Stanford University scientists, combines large-scale cell experiments with population genetics data to highlight promising targets for future therapies and deepen understanding of conditions such as blood disorders and immune-mediated diseases.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified an immune protein that damages heart cells after a myocardial infarction, leading to dangerous arrhythmias. By targeting this protein in mice, the team reduced arrhythmia incidents twelvefold. The findings suggest new ways to prevent sudden cardiac death.
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The 2025 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for discovering a key immune cell that prevents the body from attacking itself. Their work revealed regulatory T-cells and the FOXP3 gene's role in controlling autoimmune responses. This breakthrough has opened new avenues for treating autoimmune diseases and cancers.