New research shows obesity-associated immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy depends on the diet–gut microbiome axis rather than metabolic dysfunction. Human-to-mouse fecal microbiota transplants from high-BMI donors enhanced ICI efficacy, while a review outlines obesity-related inflammation's role in lung cancer immunotherapy outcomes and biomarkers.
GeoVax is advancing Gedeptin toward a Phase 2 trial in head and neck cancer and has secured an exclusive license from Emory University for Gedeptin-ICI combination technology. The therapy has Orphan Drug Designation for oral and pharyngeal cancers.
Studies on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy found pretreatment biomarkers strongly predicted checkpoint inhibitor-associated autoimmune diabetes, while hyperglycemia during treatment was common and did not worsen disease progression.
A Feb. 20, 2026 study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine identified CD8 T cell-derived TNF and TNFR2 signaling as drivers of ICI-related myocarditis in mice. Blocking TNFR2 prevented the inflammatory cycle in the heart.
Research reveals therapy-induced senescent cancer cells and the integrated stress response pathway play dual roles in cancer immunotherapy resistance. The ATF4-LCN2 axis suppresses anti-tumor immunity by promoting immunosuppressive macrophages, while senescent cells can both enhance and inhibit immune responses. These findings highlight new targets for improving immunotherapy efficacy.
Scientists at Cincinnati Children's have identified a molecular pathway responsible for immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myocarditis and demonstrated that blocking TNF signaling can prevent this fatal complication without compromising anti-tumor efficacy.
New research highlights circulating tumor DNA as a prognostic tool in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, while leronlimab demonstrates long-term survival signals in heavily pretreated metastatic patients through CCR5 receptor blockade.
Researchers at Stony Brook University developed an oral vaccine using modified Listeria monocytogenes that generates anti-tumor immune responses in the gut and significantly improves colorectal cancer control when combined with checkpoint inhibitors.
