A Sampling of Highlights from the Literature: Article Recommendations from Our Deputy and Senior Editors

Abstract

Mouse and human TMEs show similarities and differences (From Anthony B. Eason, lab of Dirk Dittmer, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center via Flickr).The extent to which the tumor microenvironment (TME) of mouse models of cancer reflects human TMEs is not well established. To address this knowledge gap, Courau and colleagues profiled 15 mouse models of cancer by cytometry by time-of-flight, nine of which they also profiled by single-cell RNA sequencing, and compared their data with the human ImmunoProfiler dataset, finding that most mouse models reflect the minority subset of human TMEs characterized as immune-desert, macrophage-rich. Overall, the data, which are publicly accessible (https://quipi.org/app/quipi_humu), show similarities and differences between mouse and human TMEs that can inform selection of the best model for specific lines of research.Courau T, …, Krummel MF. Nat Immunol 2026 May 19;27,1282–1293.CysLTR1 promotes emergency myelopoiesis, reducing tumor-associated neutrophil accumulation (From Bobjgalindo via WikiMedia Commons).The molecular factors that drive bone marrow progenitors toward tumor-promoting myeloid lineages during tumor-induced emergency myelopoiesis are incompletely characterized. Tang and colleagues find that in preclinical models, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLTR1) is upregulated in tumor-associated neutrophils. Genetic deletion of CysLTR1 attenuates tumor-induced myelopoiesis, which leads to reduced neutrophil accumulation and suppressive activity in tumors. This results in increased intratumoral CD8+ T-cell infiltration and effector function, thereby reducing tumor progression and rendering tumors sensitive to anti-PD1. The translational relevance of the data is highlighted by the observation that CysLTR1 expression and neutrophil granule formation correlate with outcomes in human cancers.Tang H, …, Zhang B. Nat Cancer 2026 May 19;DOI:10.1038/s43018-026-01174-7.Tumor irradiation enhances CAR T-cell efficacy against solid tumors (From Publicdomainvectors.org).New ways are needed to overcome challenges to successful use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to treat solid tumors. In syngeneic models of extensive lung cancer and melanoma, Navarre and colleagues show that tumor irradiation enhances CAR T-cell persistence and function. Mechanistically, this requires dendritic cells (DCs), which acquire surface antigens from tumor cells through a trogocytic process that leads to antigen dressing. Antigen-dressed DCs engage CAR T cells through the chimeric receptor, driving expansion of the CAR T cells within irradiated tumors but not adjacent normal tissue. The data suggest tumor irradiation may provide a way to enhance the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors.Navarre S, …, Ahmed J. Nat Cancer 2026 May 22;DOI:10.1038/s43018-026-01167-6.Tumor innervation prevents tertiary lymphoid structure assembly in LUAD (From NIAID via Wikimedia Commons).How sensory innervation impacts tumor growth is not fully understood. In preclinical models of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), Ho and colleagues find that increased Nav1.8+ nociceptive sensory innervation and activation in LUAD induces release of the sensory neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which redirects Ramp 1high macrophage-mediated interactions with CXCL13+ fibroblasts to reduce tertiary lymphoid structure formation. Mice exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) display increased activation of nociceptive sensory neurons, and CGRP blockade sensitizes CSE-exposed LUAD-bearing mice to anti-PD1 blockade, supporting the use of sensory denervation to modulate neuroimmune interactions in the tumor microenvironment to improve cancer immunotherapies.Ho Y-H,…, Li L. Cell 2026 May 19;189,4276–4294.E33.Identification of immune signatures that impact tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer (From Fig. 1e of Rathore et al., Cancers 2019).Delineating immune characteristics of loss of immune control of precancerous lesions could help identify patients at high risk of developing cancer. Through multimodal characterization of the immune microenvironment in colorectal lesions, including polyps and invasive carcinomas, Morgand and colleagues identify immune microenvironment signatures and noncoding RNA expression patterns associated with polyp development rate. Increased immune surveillance, adaptive immune cell infiltration, and tertiary lymphoid structure presence are reported in patients with low polyp development rates. These features occur alongside increased noncoding RNA expression, specifically those encoding noncanonical antigens with high MHC class I binding affinities, which support the potential for prophylactic vaccines that target immune pathways of early carcinogenesis.Morgand E, …, Galon J. Sci Trans Med 2026 Jun 10;18,eaed2424.CD39+ NK cells could be a target for cancer immunotherapy (From NIAID via Wikimedia Commons).Harnessing tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells could improve immunotherapy outcomes. Using single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing of intratumoral NK cells from patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Serger and colleagues identify two tumor-associated NK (taNK) cell subsets of interest, characterized by CD103 and CD49a expression, which express tissue residency and immune dysfunction genes, but also have cytotoxic gene signatures. Trajectory and regulon analyses identify, within the CD103+CD49a+ taNK cell population, a cytotoxic CD39+ effector NK-cell population with superior killing capacity. NKG2A blockade further enhances the cytotoxicity of this CD39+ NK-cell subset, suggesting this subset as a target for NK cell–based cancer immunotherapies.Serger C, …, Zippelius A. Sci Immunol 2026 Jun 5;11,eaeb6645.