Defining determinants of response to cancer immunotherapy

Defining determinants of response to cancer immunotherapy

by Lawrence Fong, MD

Life & Natural Systems Medicine & Health MJCDiseases and disordersMJCLOncology
🎙 Lawrence Fong, MD 👥 3K 📅 January 15, 2026 ⏱ 61 min 👁 727 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

immunotherapyprostate cancermyeloid cellsosteopontinadenosine pathway

Summary

In this seminar, Dr. Lawrence Fong discusses his research on determinants of response to cancer immunotherapy, focusing on both forward and reverse translation. He begins by highlighting the importance of understanding why some patients benefit from immunotherapy while others do not, using examples from his work on prostate cancer vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors. He presents unpublished data on a specific population of myeloid cells expressing high levels of SPP1 (osteopontin) that are immunosuppressive and increase in abundance with disease progression. Using mouse models, he demonstrates that these cells suppress T-cell responses and can negate the effects of checkpoint inhibitors. He identifies the hypoxia pathway and adenosine signaling as potential mechanisms of immunosuppression. The talk emphasizes the need to combine different immunotherapy modalities and to accelerate the iteration between clinical observations and laboratory research to develop next-generation therapies.

137 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk provides valuable insights into the complexities of cancer immunotherapy, particularly the role of myeloid cells in resistance. The argumentation is solid, based on a combination of clinical observations and mechanistic studies in mouse models. The speaker clearly explains the rationale for his research and the potential implications for improving patient outcomes. The use of unpublished data adds novelty but also limits the ability to fully evaluate the findings.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The speaker is a renowned expert in the field, and the talk is well-structured. He references several published clinical trials, including those for sipuleucel-T and pembrolizumab, and discusses the limitations of current therapies. The title accurately reflects the content. The talk is presented at a scientific seminar, and the speaker acknowledges the preliminary nature of some data. No external sources are cited beyond the speaker’s own work and well-known trials.

155 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on determinants of response to immunotherapy, with an emphasis on resistance mechanisms.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

Talk by a leading expert in cancer immunotherapy, presenting unpublished data from his lab. The content is based on rigorous scientific methods (single-cell analyses, mouse models) and includes references to published trials. However, as it is a seminar with unpublished data, the information is not peer-reviewed yet.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Sipuleucel-T immunotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer — Referenced as the pivotal trial for sipuleucel-T, an FDA-approved prostate cancer vaccine.
  • Pembrolizumab as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma — Referenced as a phase 3 trial showing survival benefit in bladder cancer.

Concurring Sources

  • Sipuleucel-T immunotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer — Supports the efficacy of sipuleucel-T in prostate cancer.
  • Pembrolizumab as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma — Supports the benefit of pembrolizumab in bladder cancer.

Dissenting Sources

  • Atezolizumab in prostate cancer — A phase 3 trial showing no benefit of atezolizumab in prostate cancer, consistent with the speaker's point that prostate cancer is refractory to checkpoint inhibitors.

Contribution & Novelties

The talk presents unpublished data on a novel population of SPP1+ myeloid cells that may mediate resistance to immunotherapy in prostate cancer. This could lead to new therapeutic targets. The emphasis on reverse translation and rapid iteration between clinical and laboratory findings is a valuable approach.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Osteopontin in cancer — Overview of osteopontin’s role in cancer biology.
  • Adenosine pathway in cancer immunotherapy — Review on adenosine signaling as an immunosuppressive mechanism.
  • Myeloid-derived suppressor cells — Background on immunosuppressive myeloid cells.

85 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quality of information and technical level, reflecting the speaker's expertise and the depth of the content. The quantity of information is also high, but the overall reliability is slightly lower due to the inclusion of unpublished data. This suggests a talk that is rich in novel insights but may require further validation.

Reliability 8/10

💬 Sur les 0 commentaires analysés, aucune tendance n'est disponible.