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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
08:53
In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research
Published on: September 16, 2019
Excessive vascular integrity restricts anti-tumor immunity
Rosa Trotta1, Linsha Ma1, Massimiliano Mazzone2
1Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven B3000, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven B3000, Belgium.
Cell
|June 25, 2026
Summary
Researchers identified abnormal blood vessels in small-cell lung cancer that block immune cells. They propose "reverse normalization" to improve immunotherapy effectiveness by restoring immune access to tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Tumor vasculature plays a critical role in cancer progression and treatment response.
- Vessel normalization strategies aim to normalize abnormal tumor blood vessels to enhance drug delivery and immune cell infiltration.
- Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) often exhibits a poorly understood tumor microenvironment that limits therapeutic efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of tumor vasculature in small-cell lung cancer.
- To understand the mechanisms by which tumor vasculature affects immune cell infiltration in SCLC.
- To propose a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome immunotherapy resistance in SCLC.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of tumor vasculature in SCLC models.
- Assessment of immune cell infiltration and function within the tumor microenvironment.
- Development and testing of a "reverse normalization" approach.
Main Results:
- Identification of an immune-excluding vasculature in SCLC characterized by excessive vessel integrity.
- Demonstration that this excessive vessel integrity leads to immune desertification, hindering anti-tumor immunity.
- Validation of "reverse normalization" as a strategy to restore immune access and improve immunotherapy outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The tumor vasculature in SCLC can actively exclude immune cells, contributing to immunotherapy resistance.
- "Reverse normalization" of tumor vessels presents a promising strategy to enhance anti-cancer immunity and overcome resistance to immunotherapy in SCLC.
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