St. Jude Researchers Enhance Immunotherapy by Restoring Mitochondrial Function in Dendritic Cells
Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered a new metabolic mechanism that tumors use to disable dendritic cells, which are crucial for initiating an immune response against cancer. The study, published in Science, reveals that tumors impair dendritic cell function by reducing mitochondrial fitness, thereby weakening the immune system's ability to fight cancer. By enhancing mitochondrial function in these cells, the researchers were able to restore their activity and improve the efficacy of existing immunotherapies. In preclinical mouse models, introducing dendritic cells with high mitochondrial activity into tumors restored immunogenic activity and improved tumor control. 
