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Immunology news

Oncology & Cancer

CAR-T cells engineered to attack two leukemia proteins show promise in preclinical tests

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive form of blood cancer that can occur in both children and adults. It is characterized by failures in the maturation of T-lymphocytes, key immune cells involved ...

Immunology

Simultaneous kidney and stem cell transplants may enable patients to ditch lifelong immunosuppressants

While immunosuppressive medications are critical to preventing rejection of transplant organs, they also come with plenty of downsides. They can cause harsh side effects, like headaches and tremors, and increase the risk ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

T cells take aim at Chikungunya virus

A new study, published recently in Nature Communications, offers the first-ever map of which parts of the Chikungunya virus trigger the strongest response from the body's T cells.

Neuroscience

How a multiple sclerosis drug reshapes the immune system

When ocrelizumab became the first FDA-approved treatment for early forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2017, it offered patients immense hope. The long-awaited drug is a monoclonal antibody that depletes B cells—the immune ...

Oncology & Cancer

Presurgical radiation may curb pancreatic cancer recurrence

Adding targeted radiation to chemotherapy prior to surgery may offer better control of pancreatic tumors—potentially reducing the rate of recurrence after treatment, according to a new study from UT Southwestern Medical ...

Oncology & Cancer

New drug combination effective for T-cell lymphoma patients

Relapsed/refractory peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (R/R PTCL and CTCL) are aggressive blood cancers that often resist standard therapy. Patients with these lymphomas may require stem cell transplants, but the disease ...

Medical research

How modified RNA tricks the innate immune system

The innate immune system is the body's first line of defense against pathogens and foreign substances. An essential component of this system are pattern recognition receptors, which recognize non-self RNA—such as that from ...

Medical research

Wastewater helps monitor cancer-causing HPV

Scientists in Uruguay have found genotypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) linked to cervical cancer in urban wastewater, saying it could help inform disease prevention efforts.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Hidden diversity in fibroblasts may hold key to tissue repair

Fibroblasts play a central role in maintaining healthy tissue structures, as well as in the development and progression of diseases. For a long time, these specialized connective tissue cells were thought to represent a single, ...

Oncology & Cancer

'Obesity paradox' extends to cancer treatment, study finds

It's well-known that obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But some research suggests that while people who are obese are more likely to develop cardiovascular problems, they're also less likely to die from ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

How the Epstein-Barr virus promotes its spread within the body

Many people are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and most are unaware of it. However, EBV can sometimes cause cancer, and this pathogen also appears to play an important role in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune ...

Immunology

New B meningococcus vaccine shows promise in early-stage trial

The outcome of a trial published in Science Translational Medicine, shows encouraging results for a new vaccine targeting group B meningococcus (MenB), a significant cause of meningococcal disease worldwide, and establishes ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Thetis cells identified as key player in childhood food allergies

A decade ago, a clinical trial in the U.K. famously showed that children who were exposed to peanuts in the early months of life had reduced risk of developing a peanut allergy compared with children who avoided peanuts.