Can immune signals in blood predict ICI response in early-stage HR+ breast cancer? A new study with contributions from Elizabeth Mittendorf and Eliezer Van Allen links CD8 T cell turnover, IFN activity in B cells & monocyte shifts to outcomes: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Dynamic single-cell systemic immune responses in immunotherapy-treated early-stage HR+ breast cancer patients - npj Breast Cancer

npj Breast Cancer - Dynamic single-cell systemic immune responses in immunotherapy-treated early-stage HR+ breast cancer patients

nature.com

Immune recovery after transplant may rely less on the thymus & more on choosing the right stem cells. A PICI-supported @nature.com study identifies a unique group of blood-forming stem cells that improve immune rebuilding after transplant: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Kitlo hematopoietic stem cells exhibit distinct lymphoid-primed chromatin landscapes that enhance thymic reconstitution - Nature Communications

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiate into multiple lineages, with such capacity impacted by aging. Here the authors identify Kitlo HSCs as a functionally distinct population that exhibits dis...

nature.com

What if one cell therapy could seed another? A Phase I @nature.com ‬study by @dgsomucla.bsky.social shows HSCs can be engineered to make tumor-targeting T cells—unlocking durable, self-renewing immunity. www.nature.com/articles/s41... #CancerImmunotherapy #CellTherapy #TCRT

Human cancer-targeted immunity via transgenic hematopoietic stem cell progeny - Nature Communications

Therapeutic T cells engineered to recognize tumour antigens are frequently short-lived and acquire unfavourable phenotypes in tumours. Here authors show that a tandem approach using autologous T cells...

nature.com

What if tumors helped the immune system destroy them? A new PICI-supported study by @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social & @washumedicine.bsky.social shows ATG9A-deficient tumors are vulnerable to macrophages. Add Trastuzumab + CSF1Ri? Full regression—no T cells: nature.com/articles/s41...

Exploitable mechanisms of antibody and CAR mediated macrophage cytotoxicity - Nature Communications

The mechanism of macrophage cytotoxicity against cancer cells requires further illustration. By employing CRISPR screening in CAR-macrophage and cancer cell co-culture system, the authors identify dep...

nature.com

Can a common autoimmune drug help reverse a serious side effect of cancer immunotherapy? A new PICI-supported @uclahealth.org study says maybe yes. JAK inhibitors may prevent or even reverse type 1 diabetes caused by checkpoint inhibitors. (1/2)

Congratulations to @pelkalab.bsky.social (@gladstoneinst.bsky.social) on receiving the 2025 @aaas.org Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award. Her paradigm-shifting work in colorectal cancer is shaping the way we understand and potentially treat solid tumors. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

At #FOCIS2025, PICI President of Research Ira Mellman, PhD, delivered a keynote on how decades of discovery are rapidly becoming durable treatments — from checkpoint inhibitors and dendritic cells to cancer vaccines and engineered T cells.

FOCIS - Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies@focisimmunology.bsky.social · last yr.

Join us in Salons F-G for the Wednesday night keynote - Dr. Ira Mellman! #focis2025

KRAS mutations are among the most common—and hardest—targets in solid tumors. A new study from @pennmedicine.bsky.social introduces NeoCARs: T cells engineered to target mutant KRAS (G12V) via pMHC. IL-12 armoring + TCR knockout boost potency and safety: doi.org/10.1016/j.cc...

Thrilled to celebrate our CEO, @‪drkarenknudsen.bsky.social‬ as a 2025 CNBC Changemaker! From NIH research to the American Cancer Society to leading PICI, her mission: get innovation to those who need it most. Learn more: www.cnbc.com/2025/06/18/c... #Changemaker #CancerResearch

CEO of Sean Parker's breakthrough cancer drug institute on leading new race for cure

Karen Knudsen is leading Sean Parker's cancer immunotherapy incubator where philanthropy and venture capital meet.

cnbc.com

120+ minds. 3 days. 1 mission. At the PICI Spring Scientific Retreat, we aligned on what’s next in cancer immunotherapy. From AI to predictive biomarkers & smarter cell therapies, we’re moving breakthroughs from bench to bedside with urgency & purpose. Full recap: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/d...

PICI Investigator @judithagudo.bsky.social, PhD, was recognized with the 2025 CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Award, one of immuno-oncology’s highest honors from the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Congratulations, Dr. Agudo! www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...

“Why stop now, when we haven’t yet realized immunotherapy’s full potential?” In @natrevdrugdiscov.nature.com, Ira Mellman, PhD, President of Research at PICI, shares what’s next in Immunotherapy — from curative cell therapies to smarter T cells. 🔗 nature.com/articles/d41... #Immunotherapy #Cancer

Congratulations to Anusha Kalbasi, MD, PICI Investigator at @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social, on receiving the 2025 CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Award. By advancing cell therapies for tough cancers, he is translating science into hope for patients who need it most. www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...

At #ASCO25, PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social spoke with @endpts.com ‬about how PICI is accelerating trials, investing in AI & protecting progress as funding comes under threat. → Full conversation: events.endpts.com/asco25/on-de...

Celebrating Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf, Co-Director of the PICI Center at Dana-Farber, on her election as @ASCO President for 2026–27! Her work is advancing cancer care. 🎧 Hear more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f... 🔗 Read more: www.onclive.com/view/dr-mitt... #ASCO #Immunotherapy #PICIProud

THIS MORNING: PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social joins @endpts.com at #ASCO2025 to discuss PICI’s evolving model and the imperative to align research, policy and investment with the realities facing patients today. Register and watch live at 10:35 am CDT: events.endpts.com/asco25

Endpoints at #ASCO25

The annual ASCO meeting sets the agenda for the year’s conversations around cancer treatment. We’ll review new data readouts, scrutinize pipelines, and take stock of the pathways ahead for oncology re...

events.endpts.com

Endpoints News@endpts.com · last yr.

Join us June 4 for a live post-ASCO breakdown. Endpoints and a panel of top experts will unpack key data, pipeline shifts, and what’s next in cancer research. Reserve your spot now.

Read this Endpoints article for insights on multiple glioblastoma study findings presented at #ASCO2025 with key contributions from Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital), as well as Carl June, MD and Donald O’Rourke, MD (‪@pennmedicine.bsky.social)

Endpoints News@endpts.com · last yr.

#ASCO25: Promising advances in cell therapies to treat aggressive brain cancer. The trials are small, but the data revealed last weekend is encouraging where other treatments have shown little effect. endpoints.news/asco25-brain...

David Barbie, MD, presents insights from the phase 3 ADRIATIC trial, examining clinical and molecular traits of early progressors and long-term survivors using durvalumab vs placebo after chemoradiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. #ASCO25

Today at #ASCO2025, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, receives the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award—recognizing a career dedicated to turning bold research into real patient impact. 9:45 AM–12:00 PM CDT | Hall B1 parkerici.org/asco2025 (1/3)

Tomorrow at #ASCO2025, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social, CEO of PICI, will receive the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award—one of oncology’s highest recognitions. From leading the American Cancer Society to advancing @parkerici.bsky.social, her work exemplifies bold science and strategic leadership.

PICI Network Highlights: Today at #ASCO2025, Oral Abstract 2008 presents CARv3‑TEAM‑E for recurrent GBM. Time 5:09–5:21 PM CDT | Room S406, McCormick Place. PICI investigator Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Mass General) and colleagues are re‑arming T cells to outwit GBM heterogeneity. (1/2)

The @ascocancer.bsky.social Annual Meeting starts Friday in Chicago. PICI highlights include: → Top ASCO honor for @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social → Promising glioblastoma advances → 50+ oral sessions, posters, e-papers & a clinical science symposium See more: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/a...

Prozac‑class SSRIs just boosted tumor‑fighting T cells. Cell data: blocking SERT with fluoxetine or citalopram halves tumor size in 5 models and deepens PD‑1 response, clearing some melanomas and colon tumors. High SERT predicts poorer survival—now a druggable checkpoint. Study 👉 bit.ly/4jaJ59H

Serotonin transporter inhibits antitumor immunity through regulating the intratumoral serotonin axis

Serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibits CD8 T cell antitumor immunity by depleting intratumoral serotonin. SERT-blocking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants enhance CD8 T cell ...

bit.ly

At #STATBreakthroughWest, PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social joined ASCO, MGB & @statnews.com to discuss how AI must move from hype to impact. From RADIOHEAD to Xaira Tx, the PICI Network is using AI + biology to speed trials and move bold science toward cures. www.statnews.com/2025/05/16/c...

We’re building a model to move science faster to patient impact. That’s why we’re proud to be featured at the 7th Annual Emerging Frontiers in Oncology on May 22, which explores how science, capital & clinical urgency are reshaping oncology. Sign up and learn more: emergingfrontiersoncology.com

7TH ANNUAL EMERGING FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY

May 22, 2025 | 1:00PM - 8:00 PM ET MassBio Hub | 700 Tech Square 5th floor, Cambridge, MA Reception | Catalyst Restaurant

emergingfrontiersoncology.com

Study from PICI investigator Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD shows promise for combining personalized neoantigen vaccines w/ immunotherapy in bladder cancer. In Phase 1 trial, all treated patients had T-cell responses & most remained recurrence-free or had measurable response. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Can a side effect reveal who benefits from immunotherapy? The first paper from PICI’s RADIOHEAD cohort—following 1,070 real-world, immunotherapy-naïve patients—confirms that irAEs are strongly associated with longer survival. #RealWorldEvidence

PICI and Friends of Cancer Research co-led a DC workshop with @fda.gov, academic, industry & advocacy leaders to accelerate access to cell therapies. → Speed matters—at every step → Collaboration must come early → Innovation will stall without new models Watch: www.youtube.com/live/hkQfiGW...

The new issue of The Immuno-Oncology Digest is live—featuring national honors and presentations for PICI leaders, and a first-in-human melanoma vaccine trial with 94% one-year survival. Plus: new targets, immune profiling & translational progress. us15.campaign-archive.com?u=9859ebd3ae...

Congrats to @ejohnwherry.bsky.social, PhD—pioneer of T cell exhaustion and checkpoint biology—on his election to the National Academy of Sciences. A well-earned honor for work that continues to drive immunotherapy forward. www.nasonline.org/news/2025-na... #NAS2025