Featured Studies

Major step towards individual cancer immunotherapy

March 29, 2019

T cells (left) become active in the body only when they recognise a peptide (blue, centre) located on one of the immune system’s sentinel cells (right). The ETH scientists repurposed sentinel cells in such a way that they indicate which peptides the T cells recognise. Photo credit: Medical Xpress/ Science Photo Library / Keith Chambers

Written by Fabio Bergamin, ETH Zurich

Medicine has great hopes for personalised cancer immunotherapy. The idea is to have a vaccine prompt the immune system to fight a tumour. Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a method that allows them to determine which molecules are suited to patient-specific immunisation.

Cells belonging to the body’s own can help fight tumours. For several years now, this has allowed oncologists to use medications known as checkpoint inhibitors to encourage T cells to eliminate cells. Last year the two scientists who discovered this therapeutic approach were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Read more.

Published March 29, 2019 by Medical Xpress


‹ More Featured Studies