HIV research reveals new ovarian cancer target


The research builds on decades of HIV studies led by Dr Luis Montaner, Executive Vice President of The Wistar Institute, and Director of the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center. “This target emerged from our work understanding how macrophages survive HIV infection,” Montaner said. “It shows how insights from one field of medicine can inform breakthroughs in another.”


Macrophages are immune cells that can either fight disease or shield tumours from attack. Targeting tumour- protecting macrophages without harming beneficial ones has long been a challenge. Wistar researchers discovered that selectively inhibiting a specific pocket of the retinoblastoma protein depletes only the tumour-supporting macrophages, leaving anti-tumour cells intact. Animal studies confirmed tumour shrinkage using this approach.


Dr Luis Montaner (2nd from right) and team in the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center. Credit: The Wistar Institute


Wistar Institute scientists have identified a novel therapeutic target in ovarian cancer by selectively blocking a cleft in the retinoblastoma protein, which protects tumour-supporting macrophages. The discovery [1], published in Cancer Immunology Research, could make ovarian - and potentially other - cancers more responsive to immunotherapies.


“This is a first-in-kind target against a solid tumour,” Montaner added. “It opens new avenues for therapies that could complement existing immunotherapies.”


The study highlights the value of interdisciplinary research and long-term investigation. It took over 10 years from the initial HIV-linked discovery to the identification of this cancer target. Next steps include exploring applications in acute myeloid leukaemia, pancreatic cancer, and combination therapies.


The work was supported by NIH and Department of Defense grants, PA Department of Health CURE funds,


Ovarian cancer cells. Credit: The Wistar Institute


the Robert I. Jacobs Fund, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and NIH Cancer Center Support Grant.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/yW0b


1.Targeting LxCxE cleft pocket of retinoblastoma protein in M2- like immunosuppressive macrophages inhibits ovarian cancer progression published in Cancer Immunotherapy Research, 2025


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Protein in blood linked to immunotherapy resistance


Researchers at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Turku, Finland, have identified a circulating form of the protein Clever-1 (sClever-1) that suppresses T cells and may explain why some cancers resist immunotherapy.


Published in Theranostics, the study [1] shows that high levels of sClever-1 in patient blood are associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy, a widely used cancer treatment. Importantly, the investigational antibody bexmarilimab was found to block sClever-1 release, potentially restoring the immune system’s ability to attack tumours.


Analysing plasma from 138 breast cancer patients, 193 patients with advanced solid tumours, and 21 healthy donors, the team found that inflammatory signals in the tumour microenvironment trigger sClever-1 release from immune cells such as macrophages. The circulating protein then binds to activated T cells, dampening their anti-tumour activity.


Professor Shishir Shetty (University of Birmingham) said: “High sClever-1 levels could predict which patients won’t respond to standard immunotherapy. Using bexmarilimab, we may be able to make immunotherapy effective again and design smarter combination


treatments for advanced cancers.”


Dr Maija Hollmén (University of Turku) added: “Our drug retrains immune cells to fight cancer and stops the release of substances that paralyse other immune cells. These findings provide a clearer picture of how cancer evades the immune system.”


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/7Wx2


1. Secreted Clever-1 modulates T cell responses and impacts cancer immunotherapy efficacy published in Theranostics 65809pr@reply-direct.com


Persistent immune protein may drive long COVID


A team at MedUni Vienna has discovered that levels of the immune protein PTX-3 remain elevated in patients who experienced severe COVID-19, even months after recovery. This finding suggests PTX-3 could serve as a marker for ongoing tissue damage, prolonged immune activation, and potential post-COVID complications.


The study [1], led by Winfried Pickl and Rudolf Valenta at the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, tracked 141 COVID-19 patients up to ten months after infection. They compared acute phase protein levels with those of 98 uninfected individuals. While most immune proteins return to normal shortly after infection, PTX-3 remained unusually high in patients who had severe disease.


“This protein may indicate lingering tissue repair or the presence of residual viral components,” explained Pickl. Valenta added, “PTX-3 could help identify patients at risk of long-term complications, including chronic fatigue syndromes.”


Published in Frontiers in Immunology, the research provides new insight into long COVID mechanisms and highlights the need for further studies to understand the long-term impact of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/Rn9E


1. Severe COVID-19 induces prolonged elevation of the acute- phase protein pentraxin 3 published in Frontiers in Immunology DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1672485


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Eppendorf Award 2026 opens for young European investigators


Europe’s biomedical researchers can now apply for the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators. Since 1995, this prestigious annual award - worth €20,000 - has celebrated groundbreaking research and the next generation of scientific leaders across Europe.


Applicants must be under 35 and pursuing research in Europe, with an advanced degree in biomedical sciences. The application window runs from 1 October 2025 to 15 January 2026.


An independent jury, chaired by Professor Laura Machesky of the University of Cambridge, will select the 2026 winner, continuing a tradition of recognising innovation, impact, and scientific excellence.


The award is presented in collaboration with Nature, highlighting the international significance of the achievements it celebrates. Past winners have gone on to make notable contributions to fields ranging from cell biology to translational medicine.


For full details on eligibility, selection criteria, and past laureates, as well as to submit your application, visit: ilmt.co/PL/pm9X


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/xDvQ 65915pr@reply-direct.com


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