Researchers identify T cell behavior in bone marrow cancers

Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the HI-STEM Stem Cell Institute, and Heidelberg University Hospital have identified a specific behavior of T cells in bone marrow cancers, including multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The study found that tumor-reactive T cells in the bone marrow differ from those in solid tumors. While T cells in solid tumors are often “exhausted,” those in the bone marrow exist in a state of “conditional preparedness.” They possess the biological tools to recognize and fight cancer cells but are not sufficiently or continuously activated by the body’s natural processes.

To address this, scientists identified a gene signature based on the activity of 15 genes that can distinguish these tumor-reactive T cells. This signature may help predict the success of immunotherapies. Lead researcher Dr. Mirco Julian Friedrich noted that treatments such as bispecific antibodies could potentially activate these “conditionally prepared” cells to combat cancer more effectively.