UTA Scientists Uncover Mechanism Behind Cancer Cells' Resistance to Immunotherapy

Jon Weidanz, MPH, PhD

Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington, in a collaborative study, have unveiled a critical immune system checkpoint, NKG2A, explaining why certain cancers resist immunotherapy. Published in Cell Reports, the findings offer valuable insights into the limitations of immunotherapy, particularly in cancers like colon, pancreatic, prostate, and brain cancers.

The study emphasizes that targeting the NKG2A checkpoint with monotherapy may prove ineffective without the required inflammatory trigger. Jon Weidanz, UTA Associate Vice President, underscores the ongoing challenge of understanding why immunotherapy varies in effectiveness across different individuals and cancer types.