Iron Dependent Cell Death Enhances Immunotherapy Efficacy
Iron Dependent Cell Death Enhances Immunotherapy Efficacy
Scientists Discover Ferroptosis Enhances Immunotherapy Efficacy in Head and Neck Cancer
Tags: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Healthcare & Lifesciences
NYCU’s research team, led by Professor Muh-Hwa Yang, discovered that inducing ferroptosis—iron-dependent cell death—in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) enhances the efficacy of immunotherapy. The team found that ferroptosis increases the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells, boosting immune activation and improving treatment outcomes. This approach may provide a new cancer treatment strategy by combining ferroptosis inducers with immunotherapy to target resistant cancer cells. Applications include enhancing current immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers like HNSCC. This breakthrough lays the groundwork for future drug development targeting ferroptosis mechanisms.
IP Type or Form Factor: Discovery & Research; Platform
TRL: 3 - proof of concept with needs validated
Industry or Tech Area: Biotechnology; Pharmaceutical Engineering
