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Lymph nodes found to be key to successful cancer immunotherapy
Medical Xpress / The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity / Nature Immunology ^ | Sept 17, 2025 | Carlson Tsui et al / Sharanya K. M. Wijesinghe et al

Posted on 10/05/2025 9:07:29 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

A team of researchers explored the cellular and molecular interactions revealing how lymph nodes play a crucial role in the fight against chronic infection and cancer.

The research showed that lymph nodes provide the right environment for stem-like T cells, an important type of immune cell, to survive, multiply and produce killer cells that can fight cancer or viruses.

In other immune organs, such as the spleen, these cells don't develop or proliferate as effectively, making lymph nodes essential for a strong immune response and successful immunotherapy.

Professor Axel Kallies said the findings have important implications for cancer therapy.

"Lymph nodes aren't just passive waiting rooms for immune cells, they actively train and educate T cells, and send them off to do their job," said Professor Kallies.

"Our research suggests that removing lymph nodes during cancer surgery, a common practice to prevent tumor spread, may inadvertently reduce the effectiveness of treatments, such as checkpoint blockade and CAR T cell therapies. Preserving lymph nodes could strengthen immune responses and increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy."

This work may also help explain why some patients respond better to immunotherapy than others. The state and function of lymph nodes influence how well the immune system can produce cancer-fighting T cells, directly impacting the success of immunotherapy.

Dr. Carlson Tsui, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Doherty Institute and first author of one of the papers, said the findings could help to develop new strategies to make immunotherapy more effective.

"Furthermore, our research shows that rather than only focusing on the tumor itself, therapies should also be designed to preserve and enhance lymph node function. By targeting these critical immune hubs, we could boost the body's natural ability to fight cancer, increase the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies and help more patients respond to treatment."

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: cancer; infection; lymph; lymphnodes; treatment
Keep your lymph nodes if you want to do immunotherapy, it seems.
1 posted on 10/05/2025 9:07:29 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 10/05/2025 9:08:00 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Gosh - I thought that was common knowledge....


3 posted on 10/06/2025 5:29:43 AM PDT by trebb (So many fools - so little time...)
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