Background Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is primarily treated by definitive surgery, often coupled with risk-stratified adjuvant chemotherapy.1 However, surgical interventions pose significant risks, such as speech impairment and dysphagia, highlighting the need for novel pharmacological treatments.2Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and its homolog D-Dopachrome Tautomerase (DDT) have been implicated in tumorigenesis in… Continue reading 763 Therapeutic targeting of the MIF/DDT-CD74 axis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) murine models
Tag: Oncogenic Viruses
600 Differential gene enrichment in response to durvalumab and metformin in head and neck cancer patients: the role of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)
Background Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide, with incidence rates continuing to rise.1 The search for novel biomarkers and combination therapies is ongoing, alongside efforts to elucidate pathways affected by these treatments. The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is a biomarker associated with poorer overall survival in HNC patients and… Continue reading 600 Differential gene enrichment in response to durvalumab and metformin in head and neck cancer patients: the role of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)
1421 WEE1 inhibition triggers tumor microenvironment-dependent antitumor immunity against HPV+ HNSCC tumors
Background FDA approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as a treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) confirmed the power of harnessing the immune system for HNSCC therapy. As response rates remain low, research aimed at defining new therapeutic targets that can improve ICI therapy outcomes. Among novel therapeutic strategies, AZD1775 selectively inhibits… Continue reading 1421 WEE1 inhibition triggers tumor microenvironment-dependent antitumor immunity against HPV+ HNSCC tumors
1361 Revolutionizing epigenomic analysis in cancer: high-resolution spatial CUT&Tag and spatial ATAC-seq mapping at the single-nucleus level
Background Advances in spatial transcriptomics and proteomics have enabled increasingly complex investigations into gene expression across various cellular subtypes and tissues.1–3 However, these methods do not explore the epigenome, which regulates gene expression in a cell-specific manner and plays a critical role in human diseases including cancer. A nuanced understanding of epigenetic dysregulation of chromatin… Continue reading 1361 Revolutionizing epigenomic analysis in cancer: high-resolution spatial CUT&Tag and spatial ATAC-seq mapping at the single-nucleus level
1363 Evaluation of a novel Merkel cell carcinoma mouse model and response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy
Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer linked to Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) or ultraviolet radiation-induced mutations in RB1 and TP53. While immunotherapy targeting the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway has shown promise, response rates in single-agent anti-PD1-based therapies are over 50%. Nevertheless, resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant challenge.… Continue reading 1363 Evaluation of a novel Merkel cell carcinoma mouse model and response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy
1395 Divergent tumor immune microenvironments in endemic and sporadic Burkitt lymphoma
Background Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a rare but aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), classified into endemic (eBL), sporadic (sBL) and immunodeficiency-related. eBL predominantly occurs in equatorial Africa and New Guinea, whereas sBL is found outside of Africa and shows a lesser association with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Despite sharing similar histological, cytogenetic, and immunophenotypic characteristics, eBL… Continue reading 1395 Divergent tumor immune microenvironments in endemic and sporadic Burkitt lymphoma
1203 Automated prediction of immunotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by a multimodal graph neural network
Background Immunotherapy has had a tremendous impact on cancer treatment in the past 10 years, but despite advances, a substantial fraction of patients still fail to respond. Matching patients to the appropriate treatments in a cancer setting represents an enormous unmet clinical need. Tools are needed that can effectively screen patients for immunotherapy treatments, both… Continue reading 1203 Automated prediction of immunotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by a multimodal graph neural network
1233 Predictive and generative AI to guide the clinical development of HFB200301, a first-in-class TNFR2 agonist: drug intelligence science (DIS(R))
Background Predictive and generative artificial intelligence (AI) models can complement decision-making in Discovery and Early Development. For instance, generative AI can bridge data gaps by identifying patterns across data modalities such as single-cell, imaging, and medical data. Predictive models can then link these patterns to drug efficacy and safety outcomes in patients. HiFiBiO has developed… Continue reading 1233 Predictive and generative AI to guide the clinical development of HFB200301, a first-in-class TNFR2 agonist: drug intelligence science (DIS(R))
1028 Toll like receptor agonists can affect the activation of human CD8+ T cells with downregulation of T cell checkpoint receptor expression
Background T cell checkpoint receptors are expressed when T cells are activated, and modulation of checkpoint receptor expression can alter the function of T cells and their anti-tumor efficacy. We have previously found that murine CD8+ T cells activated with cognate antigen increase the expression of PD-1, and this can be attenuated in the presence… Continue reading 1028 Toll like receptor agonists can affect the activation of human CD8+ T cells with downregulation of T cell checkpoint receptor expression
936 Transcriptional programming of CD8+ TIL specific for an oncogenic polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma
Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly immunogenic, rare but aggressive skin cancer. Approximately 80% of MCCs are driven by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), with ~50% objective response rate to PD–(L)1 blockade. It is hypothesized that this exceptional response rate is likely due to CD8+ T cell responses against MCPyV T antigens. We… Continue reading 936 Transcriptional programming of CD8+ TIL specific for an oncogenic polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma