Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.020
Martina Molgora, Marco Colonna
{"title":"Targeting brain macrophages: NF-κB as a therapeutic gateway in melanoma brain metastasis","authors":"Martina Molgora, Marco Colonna","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.020","url":null,"abstract":"Melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) is associated with poor prognosis. In this issue of <em>Cancer Cell</em>, Rodriguez-Baena et al. identify nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) (Rela) as a driver of pro-tumoral microglia in MBM. While <em>Rela</em> deletion reprograms microglia, enhancing proinflammatory and anti-metastasis T cell responses, RELA activation in human macrophages correlates with immunotherapy resistance.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.007
Chang-Ching Lin, Ariella B. Hanker
{"title":"A CDK4-selective inhibitor puts the brakes on cancer cells","authors":"Chang-Ching Lin, Ariella B. Hanker","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.007","url":null,"abstract":"In this issue of <em>Cancer Cell</em>, Palmer et al. describe the discovery and preclinical testing of the first-in-class CDK4-selective inhibitor atirmociclib. By sparing CDK6, atirmociclib has the potential to ameliorate dose-limiting hematological toxicities that limit drug exposure and treatment continuity and, by extension, the antitumor efficacy of dual CDK4/6 inhibitors.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.011
Mao Yang, Yuhao Zhao, Chen Li, Xiaoling Weng, Zhizhen Li, Wu Guo, Wenning Jia, Feiling Feng, Jiaming Hu, Haonan Sun, Bo Wang, Huaifeng Li, Ming Li, Ting Wang, Wei Zhang, Xiaoqing Jiang, Zongli Zhang, Fubao Liu, Hai Hu, Xiangsong Wu, Yingbin Liu
{"title":"Multimodal integration of liquid biopsy and radiology for the noninvasive diagnosis of gallbladder cancer and benign disorders","authors":"Mao Yang, Yuhao Zhao, Chen Li, Xiaoling Weng, Zhizhen Li, Wu Guo, Wenning Jia, Feiling Feng, Jiaming Hu, Haonan Sun, Bo Wang, Huaifeng Li, Ming Li, Ting Wang, Wei Zhang, Xiaoqing Jiang, Zongli Zhang, Fubao Liu, Hai Hu, Xiangsong Wu, Yingbin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.011","url":null,"abstract":"Gallbladder cancer (GBC) frequently mimics gallbladder benign lesions (GBBLs) in radiological images, leading to preoperative misdiagnoses. To address this challenge, we initiated a prospective, multicenter clinical trial (ChicCTR2100049249) and proposed a multimodal, non-invasive diagnostic model to distinguish GBC from GBBLs. A total of 301 patients diagnosed with gallbladder-occupying lesions (GBOLs) from 11 medical centers across 7 provinces in China were enrolled and divided into a discovery cohort and an independent external validation cohort. An artificial intelligence (AI)-based integrated model, GBCseeker, is created using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) genetic signatures, radiomic features, and clinical information. It achieves high accuracy in distinguishing GBC from GBBL patients (93.33% in the discovery cohort and 87.76% in the external validation cohort), reduces surgeons’ diagnostic errors by 56.24%, and reclassifies GBOL patients into three categories to guide surgical options. Overall, our study establishes a tool for the preoperative diagnosis of GBC, facilitating surgical decision-making.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.022
Zhenyu Dai, Melody Smith
{"title":"Epigenetic enhancement of adoptive T cell immunotherapy","authors":"Zhenyu Dai, Melody Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.022","url":null,"abstract":"Isshiki et al. and Porazzi et al. report that inhibiting enhancer of zeste homolog 1 (EZH1) and EZH2 enhances chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)/T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies by reprogramming tumors to be more immunogenic and improving T cell phenotype and demonstrate the efficacy of this combination in preclinical models across hematologic and solid cancers. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate its safety and therapeutic potential.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.021
Jiasheng Wang, Xin Lin
{"title":"An innovative ALA-CART platform exhibits high efficacy against cancers","authors":"Jiasheng Wang, Xin Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.021","url":null,"abstract":"The therapeutic efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is compromised in antigen-low tumors due to poor sensitivity and insufficient persistence. In this issue of <em>Cancer Cell</em>, Pham-Danis et al. design the ALA-CART platform to improve CAR T cell sensitivity, persistence, differentiation, and cytotoxic function by enhancing LAT phosphorylation after low antigen stimulation.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.008
Catherine Pham-Danis, Amanda J. Novak, Etienne Danis, Samantha M. McClellan, Lillie Leach, Michael C. Yarnell, Christopher C. Ebmeier, Sarah K. Tasian, M. Eric Kohler
{"title":"Restoration of LAT activity improves CAR T cell sensitivity and persistence in response to antigen-low acute lymphoblastic leukemia","authors":"Catherine Pham-Danis, Amanda J. Novak, Etienne Danis, Samantha M. McClellan, Lillie Leach, Michael C. Yarnell, Christopher C. Ebmeier, Sarah K. Tasian, M. Eric Kohler","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.008","url":null,"abstract":"Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells induce responses in patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia; however, long-term efficacy is frequently limited by relapse. The inability to target antigen-low cells is an intrinsic vulnerability of second-generation CAR T cells and underlies most relapses following CD22BBz CAR T cell therapy. Here, we interrogate CD22BBz CAR signaling in response to low antigen and find inefficient phosphorylation of the linker for activation of T cells (LAT) limiting downstream signaling. To overcome this, we designed the adjunctive LAT-activating CAR T cell (ALA-CART) platform, pairing a second-generation CAR with a LAT-CAR incorporating the intracellular domain of LAT. ALA-CART cells demonstrate reduced differentiation during manufacturing and increased LAT phosphorylation, MAPK signaling, and AP-1 activity. ALA-CART cells show improved cytotoxicity, proliferation, persistence, and efficacy against antigen-low leukemias that were refractory to clinically active CD22BBz CAR T cells. Restoration of LAT signaling through the ALA-CART platform represents a promising strategy for overcoming multiple mechanisms of CAR T cell failure.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.012
Mathieu Desaunay, Poulikos I. Poulikakos
{"title":"Overcoming melanoma therapy resistance with RAF-MEK and FAK inhibition","authors":"Mathieu Desaunay, Poulikos I. Poulikakos","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.012","url":null,"abstract":"Cutaneous melanoma, frequently driven by BRAF (V600X) mutations, often develops resistance to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this issue of <em>Cancer Cell</em>, Lubrano et al. identify RhoA-FAK-AKT signaling as a resistance mechanism and demonstrate that combining RAF-MEK glue with a FAK inhibitor enhances tumor regression and immune response.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer CellPub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.016
Ting Liu, Leif W. Ellisen
{"title":"Exploring the “chemo” in chemoimmunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer","authors":"Ting Liu, Leif W. Ellisen","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.016","url":null,"abstract":"In this issue of <em>Cancer Cell</em>, Zhang et al. use single-cell RNA sequencing to compare immune cell dynamics in triple-negative breast cancers treated with the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab plus paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel. They identify distinct T cell activation patterns and highlight mast cells’ role in immune activation exclusively in the nab-paclitaxel combination.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-cell multi-stage spatial evolutional map of esophageal carcinogenesis","authors":"Jiang Chang, Junting Lu, Qingyi Liu, Tao Xiang, Shaosen Zhang, Yonglin Yi, Dongxu Li, Tianyuan Liu, Zeyuan Liu, Xinjie Chen, Zhenghao Dong, Cainan Li, HanZhang Yi, Siqi Yu, Luwei Huang, Fangfei Qu, Mengdi Wang, Dehe Wang, Hao Dong, Guoyu Cheng, Chen Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.009","url":null,"abstract":"Cancer development involves the co-evolution of cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment, yet the dynamics of this interaction within the physical architecture remains poorly understood. Here, we present a spatial transcriptomic map at single-cell resolution, encompassing 127 multi-stage fields of view from 43 patients, to chart the evolutionary trajectories of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). By analyzing 6.4 million cells, we reveal that ESCC progression is driven by a proliferative epithelial cell subpopulation that acquires dedifferentiated and invasive characteristics. At the late precancerous stage, these cells disrupt the epithelial-stromal interface and recruit normal fibroblasts via JAG1-NOTCH1 signaling, transforming them into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This interaction leads to the formation of a “CAF-Epi” (CAF and epithelial cell) niche at the tumor edge that shields the tumor from immune surveillance. The CAF-Epi niche formation is a key indicator of progression in ESCC and other squamous cell carcinomas and patient outcomes.","PeriodicalId":9670,"journal":{"name":"Cancer Cell","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}