Our Discoveries

New insights show faulty immune cells are trained to become healthy

Researchers traditionally believed faulty T cells that have the potential to attack someone’s own tissues were eliminated before the cells leave the thymus. Now, research in mice shows that these autoreactive cells are evicted from the thymus and can mature into healthy cancer-fighting cells in the body’s peripheral tissues. This basic science discovery holds important implications for our understanding of autoimmune diseases and cancer.

New technology assists T-cell therapy in eradicating solid tumors in mice

A new technology targeted at T-cell therapy may help immunotherapy overcome the treatment-hindering environment inside solid tumors.

Gene therapy proves successful in children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare genetic disorder where males lack a gene critical for healthy blood and immune cell functioning. In a recent clinical trial, gene therapy for WAS was found to improve patients’ symptoms — an effect that was sustained for many years afterward.

New CAR T-cell therapy eliminates rhabdomyosarcoma in mice

After seeing excellent results of a CAR T-cell therapy against rhabdomyosarcoma in mice, a team of CCR researchers is preparing to test the immunotherapy in humans.

New findings highlight shared features of human and canine osteosarcoma

Molecular signatures of canine osteosarcoma prognosis could also predict clinical outcomes for human osteosarcomas.

Shining a light on an elusive cancer metabolite

Researchers have long sought a means for subcellular imaging of acetyl-CoA, a metabolite suspected to play a critical role in turning genes on and off. In an important advance, CCR researchers have invented a glowing biosensor to detect the elusive metabolite, paving the way for future studies.

Seldom-studied immune cells in the liver may be helpful in treating cancer

CCR researchers have discovered that certain immune cells in the liver, called MAITs, often surround liver tumors but fail to infiltrate them. An analysis suggests that treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors could potentially trigger these immune cells to help them infiltrate and attack the tumors.

A stain of HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has high levels of SMYD3

Chromatin modifier linked to immunotherapy resistance in HPV-negative head and neck cancers

Researchers have discovered that a chromatin-regulating enzyme called SMYD3 limits the access of cancer-attacking immune cells to HPV-negative head and neck cancers, therefore decreasing immunotherapy’s effectiveness. Depleting SMYD3 increased the cancer’s sensitivity to a standard immunotherapy drug in mouse models.

New insights explain how the same protein can serve different functions

Proteins can often choose between potential interacting partners and serve different functions inside cells. How these choices are made is not entirely clear. New research shows that the exact location in a cell where the protein is produced and the rate of its synthesis are key factors in this choice.

New T-cell therapy shrinks solid tumors in early-phase clinical trial

Trial results show that engineered T cells can effectively target mesothelin, a protein found on many solid tumors.

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