Circadian tumor infiltration and function of CD8(+) T cells dictate immunotherapy efficacy. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38723627/)

These scientists wanted to understand how the body's internal clock, called the circadian clock, affects the immune system's ability to fight cancer. They found that certain immune cells called CD8(+) T cells, which are important for controlling tumor growth, have a natural rhythm that changes throughout the day. This rhythm is influenced by the body's internal clock and the movement of immune cells into the tumor.

To test this, the scientists studied both mice and human cancer patients. They discovered that the timing of treatment with therapies that boost the immune system, like chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and immune checkpoint blockade, can be more effective when adjusted based on the body's internal clock. By treating patients at specific times of the day, the therapies could work better in fighting cancer.

In their study, the scientists also found that the timing of immune responses in mice could predict how well patients with melanoma would respond to a specific therapy. This information can help doctors design better treatments and care plans for cancer patients in the future.

Overall, the study shows that the body's natural rhythms play a big role in how the immune system fights cancer, and by understanding these rhythms, scientists can develop better treatments to help patients.

Wang C., Zeng Q., Gul ZM., Wang S., Pick R., Cheng P., Bill R., Wu Y., Naulaerts S., Barnoud C., Hsueh PC., Moller SH., Cenerenti M., Sun M., Su Z., Jemelin S., Petrenko V., Dibner C., Hugues S., Jandus C., Li Z., Michielin O., Ho PC., Garg AD., Simonetta F., Pittet MJ., Scheiermann C. Circadian tumor infiltration and function of CD8(+) T cells dictate immunotherapy efficacy. Cell. 2024 May 23;187(11):2690-2702.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.015. Epub 2024 May 8.