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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Flow Cytometry-Based Isolation and Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Flow Cytometry-Based Isolation and Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Published on: January 17, 2025

Immunotherapies in rare cancers.

Sneha Vivekanandhan¹, Deborah Bahr¹, Ashish Kothari²

¹Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.

Molecular Cancer

|February 2, 2023

Summary

This review explores advanced immune therapies, including immune-checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy, for treating rare cancers. It highlights strategies to improve treatment efficacy and discusses future directions in rare cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords:

CAR T cells CTLA-4 Cancers Dendritic cells Immune checkpoint inhibitors Macrophages Neoantigens PD1 PDL1 Rare Tumor associated macrophages Vaccines

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Immunology
Cancer Research

Background:

Rare cancers represent a significant global health challenge due to their low individual frequencies but high collective incidence.
Recent advancements in cancer treatment have focused on immune-based therapies, offering new hope for patients.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the application of four major immune-based therapies in treating rare cancers.
To discuss the limitations of current immunotherapies and propose strategies for enhancing their effectiveness.
To explore future directions and novel immunotherapeutic approaches for rare cancers.

Main Methods:

Review of current literature on immune-based therapies for rare cancers.
Analysis of immune-checkpoint inhibitors, macrophage therapy, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, and neoantigen-based therapies.
Discussion of therapeutic limitations and potential solutions.

Main Results:

Identified four key immune-based therapies with potential for rare cancer treatment.
Highlighted challenges in efficacy and proposed strategies for improvement.
Outlined future research avenues and additional immunotherapies.

Conclusions:

Immune-based therapies show promise for rare cancers, but challenges remain.
Overcoming limitations through strategic advancements is crucial for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Continued research into novel immunotherapies is essential for advancing rare cancer care.