Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Personalized immunotherapy”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cloned human CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for Toxoplasma gondii lyse tachyzoite-infected target cells.

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In immunocompetent hosts, the infection is usually not significant. However, infection occurring in neonates or other individuals with defective cellular immunity (such as recipients of organ allografts or persons with AIDS) may be life threatening. An effective vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis, or immunotherapy for persons already infected with Tg would be important additions to the therapeutic armamentarium. We cloned toxoplasma-specific CTL from the PBMC of an asymptomatic individual with serologic evidence for prior Tg infection by stimulation with Ag produced from the RH strain of Tg. These CTL were exclusively of the CD3+, CD4+, CD8- surface phenotype, and lysed autologous target cells that had been either pulsed with Toxoplasma Ag, or infected with live tachyzoites. Lysis of target cells was inhibited by incubation of CTL with anti-T cell antibody, or by incubation of target cells with anti-DR antibody or chloroquine. These CTL also lysed target cells either pulsed with Ag derived from C strain Tg or infected with live C strain tachyzoites, indicating cross-reactivity of recognition. Unlike recently reported murine or human CD8+ Tg-specific CTL, which lysed tachyzoites in an extracellular, and hence HLA-unrestricted environment, these CD4+ CTL had no effect on the infectivity of extracellular tachyzoites. CD8+ Tg-specific CTL were not derived from this donor despite several different approaches to their generation. These data confirm previous reports of human Tg-specific CTL, and extend these observations to include CD4+ CTL. These findings suggest that specific immunotherapy directed against Tg, as well as the development of a preventive vaccine, may be possible.

Animals↗

Therapeutic melanoma vaccines: Platforms, neoantigen strategies, and emerging combination immunotherapies.

Melanoma has emerged as a major focus of cancer immunotherapy research because of its highly immunogenic nature and responsiveness to immune-based treatments. Therapeutic melanoma vaccines are designed to stimulate tumor-specific immune responses through the delivery of Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAAs), Tumor-Specific Antigens (TSAs), and personalized neoantigens. This narrative review provides an overview of current melanoma vaccine strategies, including peptide-based vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, nucleic acid-based platforms such as mRNA, DNA, and viral vector vaccines. Recent advances in vaccine engineering and tumor genomics have accelerated the development of personalized neoantigen vaccines capable of targeting mutations unique to individual tumors. In parallel, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly being incorporated into neoantigen identification pipelines to improve epitope prediction and optimize vaccine design. Combination strategies involving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs), particularly anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies, have further enhanced interest in melanoma vaccines by helping overcome tumor-induced immune suppression and augment T-cell activation. In addition to reviewing vaccine mechanisms and emerging technologies, this manuscript examines the evolving clinical trial landscape through analysis of melanoma vaccine studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Although many studies have reported encouraging safety and immunogenicity findings, challenges related to tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, biomarker selection, and manufacturing complexity continue to limit widespread clinical implementation. Ongoing advances in computational immunology, biomaterial engineering, and precision oncology are expected to further refine melanoma vaccine development and improve therapeutic efficacy. Collectively, these innovations may help establish melanoma vaccines as an increasingly important component of future personalized cancer immunotherapy strategies.

DNA vaccines↗

[Sublingual immunotherapy with cat epithelial extract. Personal experience].

Because cats are a common pet in many houses and tourist complexes in the Canary Islands, sensitization to cat epithelium is a frequent problem. A total of 19.2% of patients with intrinsic asthma are sensitized to cat epithelium. In the Canary Islands, the percentage of sensitization among patients with a household cat is 18.1%, which higher is higher than in the rest of Spain (11.9). Many patients with extrinsic asthma sensitized to house dust mites undergo conventional subcutaneous immunotherapy but evolution is unsatisfactory due to sensitization to cat epithelium (whether a cat is present or not). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of sublingual immunotherapy with extract of cat epithelium in monosensitized patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma. Forty patients monosensitized to cat epithelium were selected. Of these, 20 were administered sublingual immunotherapy and another 20 received placebo. The following evaluation was carried out in both groups: in vivo and in vitro: symptom score, skin tests, nasal challenge with cat epithelium, specific IgE determination, specific IgG4 and eosinophilic cationic protein. After 1 year of treatment the cumulative dose was 3.6 micrograms of Fe ld I, equivalent to 10 ng/drop. Duration of treatment was 365 days. Our conclusions, based on our patients in the Canary Islands, were the following: 1. Sublingual Fel d I therapy is effective after 1 year of treatment. 2. There were no modifications in IgE, eosinophilic cationic protein or skin tests. 3. An increase in IgG4 occurred which was related to clinical improvement. 4. In general, tolerance was good, except in one patient who presented urticaria and sublingual pruritus. 5. In polysensitized patients, sublingual immunotherapy to cat epithelium is complementary to immunotherapy to dermatophagoides.

Administration, Sublingual↗

Relative dominance of epitope-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected persons with shared HLA alleles.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) target multiple epitopes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, and are thought to influence the viral set point. The extent to which HLA class I allele expression predicts the epitopes targeted has not been determined, nor have the relative contributions of responses restricted by different class I alleles within a given individual. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of the CTL response to optimally defined CTL epitopes restricted by HLA class I A and B alleles in individuals who coexpressed HLA A2, A3, and B7. The eight HIV-1-infected subjects studied included two subjects with acute HIV infection, five subjects with chronic HIV infection, and one long-term nonprogressor. Responses were heterogeneous with respect to breadth and magnitude of CTL responses in individuals of the same HLA type. Of the 27 tested epitopes that are presented by A2, A3, and B7, 25 were targeted by at least one person. However, there was wide variation in the number of epitopes targeted, ranging from 2 to 17. The A2-restricted CTL response, which has been most extensively studied in infected persons, was found to be narrowly directed in most individuals, and in no cases was it the dominant contributor to the total HIV-1-specific CTL response. These results indicate that HLA type alone does not predict CTL responses and that numerous potential epitopes may not be targeted by CTL in a given individual. These data also provide a rationale for boosting both the breadth and the magnitude of HIV-1-specific CTL responses by immunotherapy in persons with chronic HIV-1 infection.

Alleles↗

Predictive Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Efficacy: Challenges, Innovations, and a Pathway to Precision Medicine in the Era of Cancer Immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed oncology practice. However, treatment response remains heterogeneous, rendering predictive biomarkers critical for optimal patient care. The 3 established biomarkers, programmed death-ligand 1, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability-high/deficient mismatch repair, are approved and clinically validated but are modest predictors of benefit. As a result, multiple novel predictive biomarkers remain under investigation. CONTENT: This review highlights established and investigational predictive ICI efficacy biomarkers. For established biomarkers, we describe biology, assay modalities, approved companion diagnostics, landmark studies, and notable limitations. Due to the multisystem nature of antitumor immune effects, investigational biomarkers span multiple domains, including tumor genomic biomarkers (e.g., mutational signatures, TMB, neoantigen clonality), tumor microenvironment (e.g., tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes [TILs], tertiary lymphoid structures), systemic immune biomarkers (e.g., cytokines, autoantibodies, glycoproteins, peripheral blood mononuclear cells), and the microbiome (e.g., gastrointestinal microbial diversity, responder-enriched taxa). SUMMARY: The established biomarkers PD-L1, TMB, and microsatellite instability-high/deficient mismatch repair inform ICI use in clinical practice but have important limitations. Multiple investigational biomarkers show promise in refining patient selection and optimizing therapy. Moving forward, increased assay harmonization, prospective validation, and standardized parameters may improve performance. Composite models integrating complementary signals across domains may further individualize treatment and lead to an era of personalized cancer immunotherapy.

Humans↗

optiPRM: A Targeted Immunopeptidomics LC-MS Workflow With Ultra-High Sensitivity for the Detection of Mutation-Derived Tumor Neoepitopes From Limited Input Material.

Personalized cancer immunotherapies such as therapeutic vaccines and adoptive transfer of T cell receptor-transgenic T cells rely on the presentation of tumor-specific peptides by human leukocyte antigen class I molecules to cytotoxic T cells. Such neoepitopes can for example arise from somatic mutations and their identification is crucial for the rational design of new therapeutic interventions. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based immunopeptidomics is the only method to directly prove actual peptide presentation and we have developed a parameter optimization workflow to tune targeted assays for maximum detection sensitivity on a per peptide basis, termed optiPRM. Optimization of collision energy using optiPRM allows for the improved detection of low abundant peptides that are very hard to detect using standard parameters. Applying this to immunopeptidomics, we detected a neoepitope in a patient-derived xenograft from as little as 2.5 × 106 cells input. Application of the workflow on small patient tumor samples allowed for the detection of five mutation-derived neoepitopes in three patients. One neoepitope was confirmed to be recognized by patient T cells. In conclusion, optiPRM, a targeted MS workflow reaching ultra-high sensitivity by per peptide parameter optimization, makes the identification of actionable neoepitopes possible from sample sizes usually available in the clinic.

Humans↗

The viral envelope in the evolution of HIV: a hypothetical approach to inducing an effective immune response to the virus.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 'perceived' by the host immune system as partly-self because of the presence of host cell wall membrane on the viral envelope. This perception leads to an ineffective immune response to the virus. It is proposed that only viral core antigens without the envelope will be perceived as non-self by the host immune system and can provoke an effective immune response. In normal uninfected persons, core antigens could therefore serve as a vaccine. In HIV infected persons, uncommitted immunocytes from the peripheral leucocytes freed from antibodies will in vitro process autologous viral core antigens as non-self antigens and lead to an effective immune response against the HIV when reinjected into the patient. The use of autologous viral core antigens provides, at the same time, a means for testing viral core antigens as possible vaccines without any risk to a third person. This immunotherapy of the HIV, when confirmed, will support core antigens as possible vaccines and could also be applied to the large group of retroviral and other enveloped viruses that cause chronic infections and malignant tumours in man and animals, with considerable benefits to human and animal health.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Mass Spectrometry-Based Profiling of Personalized Immunopeptidomes in Thai Renal Cell Carcinoma.

This study profiles the personalized immunopeptidomes of 13 Thai patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), addressing a critical knowledge gap in Southeast Asian populations characterized by distinct HLA allele distributions. We combined whole-exome sequencing (WES)-based personalized proteome construction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), using both database-driven searches and de novo peptide sequencing. HLA typing identified several class I allotypes that are underrepresented in publicly available immunopeptidome resources, including seven alleles not previously represented in the databases examined; HLA-A*11:01 was the most frequent allele in this cohort. Database-based analysis identified a single tumor-specific neoantigen derived from a mutant JADE2 peptide in the patient with the highest tumor mutational burden, which was validated by a mutant-specific ELISPOT response. In contrast, de novo sequencing revealed numerous noncanonical peptides, a subset of which were supported by proteogenomic validation using PepQuery and detected exclusively in cancer proteomes but not in normal tissue data sets, indicating their potential as tumor-associated antigen candidates. Together, these results establish an integrated and scalable framework for identifying HLA-presented tumor-derived peptides and provide a foundational immunopeptidome resource to support personalized cancer immunotherapy development in Southeast Asia.

Humans↗

Splenic hilum nodal involvement in resected left-sided pancreatic cancer: meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Splenectomy is standard of care during left pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to obtain adequate lymphadenectomy. However, evidence supporting this approach is lacking. Splenic preservation would reduce short-term morbidity and is essential for emerging oncological adjunctive therapies, including immunotherapy and personalized cancer vaccines. This study reviewed the incidence of splenic hilum nodal involvement (SHNI) in left-sided PDAC. METHODS: A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed, identifying studies published from inception to July 2026. Outcomes of interest were the rate of SHNI (station 10), overall survival, and the rate of splenic artery nodal involvement (SANI; station 11). Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses for SHNI were performed per tumour localization (pancreatic neck, body, tail). RESULTS: Among 2776 screened studies, 22 with 2260 patients undergoing left pancreatectomy for PDAC were included. The pooled prevalence of SHNI was 3.7% (95% confidence interval (c.i.) 2.2% to 6.2%); 1.1% for pancreatic body PDAC (95% c.i. 0.3% to 4.3%) and 9.7% for pancreatic tail PDAC (95% c.i. 3.5% to 24.0%). SHNI was not significantly associated with survival (pooled hazard ratio 2.05; 95% c.i. 0.89% to 4.72; P = 0.072). The pooled prevalence of SANI was 39.1% (95% c.i. 25.1% to 55.1%). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing left pancreatectomy for PDAC, the presence of SHNI is rare, particularly in pancreatic body cancer (1.1%). These findings suggest that the relevance of routine splenectomy remains unclear, especially for pancreatic body PDAC. However, because the quality of current evidence is low, further investigation in prospective studies is required.

Humans↗

Single-cell profiling reveals a novel CAF subpopulation linking stromal heterogeneity to immune suppression in breast cancer subtypes.

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment critically influences breast cancer (BC) progression, immune surveillance, and therapeutic response. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogeneous stromal population, are key regulators of these processes, yet their subtype-specific contributions in BC remain insufficiently defined. METHODS: We integrated three single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from 29 BC patients to characterize stromal populations. Bulk RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to assess correlations between CAF subsets and immune infiltration. Gene signatures were derived to identify subtype-specific CAF-immune interactions, prognostic markers, and potential predictors of chemotherapy response. RESULTS: Three conserved stromal populations (iCAFs, myCAFs, and pericytes) were identified, along with a previously unrecognized subset, the cluster 3 (CL3) CAF-like cells, referred as metabolic stressed CAF (msCAF). msCAF cells displayed transcriptional programs associated with antigen presentation, stress response, glycolysis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Their abundance was inversely correlated with T-cell infiltration and function, in a subtype-specific manner: triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) was enriched for msCAFs in immune-infiltrated but functionally constrained microenvironments, whereas Luminal A tumors exhibited weaker immune infiltration with heterogeneous CAF-immune associations. msCAFs were characterized by a conserved gene signature (HLA-A, HLA-C, IL32, EMP3) and subtype-specific genes related to T-cell exhaustion. Several genes demonstrated prognostic relevance with distinct patterns in Luminal A (IER3, TIMP1, TBX3, SEC61G) and TNBC (ADM, C4orf3, LDHA) tumors, as well as shared biomarkers (FN1, LOXL2, P4HA1). Multiple msCAF genes also predicted chemotherapy response, suggesting utility as treatment stratification biomarkers. CONCLUSION: msCAFs represent a clinically relevant CAF subset that drives immune suppression, impacts subtype-specific prognosis, and influences therapy response in BC. These findings highlight msCAFs as promising targets for enhancing immunotherapy and personalizing treatment strategies.

Humans↗

Clinical study on value and limitations of subcutaneous immunotherapy (specific hyposensitization) in allergic asthma to house dust mite, based on a personal algorithm of selection.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SI) was administered to 148 patients (76 males, 72 females; aged 6-48 years) with allergic asthma to house dust and mites (D. pteronyssinus). Skin tests were positive to both allergens. Treatment was performed with allergenic extracts of house dust (61 patients) and allergenic extracts to house dust mites (87 patients) over a period of at least one year (mean 2.8 years). The selection criteria were: past history (including positive natural provocation test), intense skin response to mite extracts (> 10 mm) and favorable response to therapy with disodium cromoglycate and/or ketotifen. None of the patients selected presented long-lasting infections or other complications in the evolution of asthma. During treatment it was necessary in 46% of the patients to add other drugs such as mast cell degranulators or corticosteroid products over short periods when occasional cases of respiratory infections occurred. Favorable results were obtained in 86% of the cases, with the best results being obtained in patients who exactly fulfilled the selection criteria and in whom SI was administered over a period of at least 3 years.

Adolescent↗

Medical-legal considerations in the practice of allergy: personal reflections on lessons learned from an immunotherapy fatality.

Fatalities after administration of specific allergen immunotherapy are rare occurrences in a general allergy practice, as is medical negligence litigation. The author has experienced both and now relates his personal reflections on the lessons that were learned from the experiences. The twelve lessons that are reviewed encompass observations that are relevant not only to immunotherapy litigation but also to any general medical negligence litigation that one might encounter. Three principles of practice that are specific for allergen immunotherapy administration and that were closely scrutinized during the litigation are also reviewed.

Adult↗

Development and validation of a novel risk stratification signature derived from migrasome and tumor microenvironment-related genes for molecular subtyping and improving clinical outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) and migrasomes released by tumor cells significantly influence carcinogenesis and immune evasion. However, our understanding of the prognostic and therapeutic implications of migrasome and tumor microenvironment-related genes (mtmRGs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains limited. METHODS: We explored the relationship between mtmRGs and HNSCC prognosis by utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Subsequently, we developed an innovative prognostic signature, and assessed its prognostic significance using the Kaplan-Meier method, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and Cox regression analyses. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we conducted gene set variation analysis (GSVA), gene set enrichment analysis (GESA), and immune infiltration analysis. A nomogram was developed to estimate the overall survival (OS) rates for HNSCC patients. Lastly, we chose P4HA1, which was part of the signature, for additional experimental validation in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The mtmRGs signature effectively classifies HNSCC patients into two distinct risk subgroups, with the high-risk cohort demonstrating significantly poorer OS. The risk score serves as an independent prognostic factor for HNSCC patients; those with lower risk scores are more likely to exhibit favorable responses to immunotherapy, particularly with CTLA4 inhibitors. Furthermore, a lower risk score is significantly correlated with the sensitivity of HNSCC patients to cyclophosphamide, gemcitabine, and axitinib. CONCLUSION: This study presents an innovative gene signature associated with mtmRGs, which may be utilized both for predicting survival and directing personalized chemotherapy and immunotherapy regiments for patients with HNSCC.

Humans↗

Age-stratified mutation patterns in early-onset colorectal cancer reveal distinct molecular features and therapeutic implications.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasingly diagnosed in younger adults, with evidence that early-onset cases (age <50 years) differ in the spectrum of prevalent gene mutations compared with older individuals. To evaluate how these age-related differences may inform testing guidelines and therapeutic development, we examined mutation rates of the most prevalent gene mutations across four age-stratified cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinicogenomic data were obtained from Memorial Sloan Kettering Center for Harmonized Onco-genomic Research Dataset and China Pan-Cancer cohorts available in cBioPortal. A total of 6762 samples were analyzed. Mutation frequencies for a comprehensive panel of the 100 most prevalent CRC genes were compared across four age groups: 18-29 (n = 79), 30-39 (n = 402), 40-49 (n = 1064), and &#x2265;50 (n = 5217) using chi-square analysis. False discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons was carried out using Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. RESULTS: Statistically significant variation in mutation frequency across age groups was seen in 22 key genes. APC mutations increased with age and were seen in 49.4% of patients in the 18-29 group, 69.7% in 30-39, 73.3% in 40-49, and 75.25% of patients &#x2265;50 (P < 0.001, FDR < 0.001). The oldest cohort was more than three times more likely to have an APC mutation than the youngest [odds ratio (OR) = 3.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44-5.74, P < 0.001]. In contrast, SMAD4 mutations were twice as common in the youngest age group at 31.6% compared with those over 40, with a prevalence of 17.29% in patients 40-49, and 18.84% in patients over 50 (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.26-3.27, P < 0.001, FDR < 0.001). POLE mutations peaked in the 30-39 age group with a prevalence of 10.7% compared with 6.3% in patients aged 18-29, 4.9% in patients aged 40-49, and 5.9% in patients aged &#x2265;50 (P < 0.001, FDR < 0.001). Individuals in the 30-39 group were nearly twice as likely to carry a POLE mutation compared with those over 40 (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.41-2.74, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in mutations of key genes including a lower prevalence of APC mutations and increased SMAD4 mutations in younger individuals provides further supporting evidence that early-onset CRC may represent a distinct biological subtype of CRC. Enrichment of POLE mutations in younger patients highlights the importance of expanded molecular profiling in early-onset CRC, which could help identify patients most likely to benefit from immunotherapy and advance personalized treatment strategies in CRC. Together, these findings reinforce the need to approach early-onset CRC as a distinct biological entity and ensure that appropriate molecular assays are incorporated to guide care.

APC↗

Effect of aging on bone marrow-derived murine CD11c+CD4-CD8alpha- dendritic cell function.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are actively used as cellular adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy. However, although DC immunotherapies primarily target the elderly population, little is known about the effect of aging on DC functions. Here, we compared the T-cell stimulation, cytokine production, and tumor surveillance functions of bone marrow-derived CD11c(+)CD4(-)CD8alpha(-) DCs of old and young C57BL/6 mice. Old immature bone marrow-derived CD4(-)CD8alpha(-) DCs (imDCs) were 4 times less effective than were young DCs in stimulating syngeneic CD4(+) T-cell proliferation. Old imDCs also have decreased DC-specific/intracellular adhesion molecule type 3-grabbing, nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) expression compared to young DCs. Interestingly, mice treated with the ovalbumin peptide-pulsed young DCs exhibited significantly greater tumor regression than with ovalbumin peptide-pulsed old DCs. Old terminally differentiated bone marrow-derived DCs (tDC) also have increased interleukin-10, but decreased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. Taken together, these results have important implications in the clinical application of DC-based tumor immunotherapy in elderly persons.

Aging↗

Alternaria IgG precipitins and adverse reactions.

Late reactions consisting of fever, malaise, and swelling at the site, 4 to 6 hr after injections of Alternaria extract occurred in several patients receiving immunotherapy with Alternaria. These patients had in common serum IgG precipitins and exquisite leukocyte histamine release sensitivity to Alternaria. Such precipitins were 3 times more frequent in patients receiving Alternaria immunotherapy than a control group of patients receiving immunotherapy with other antigens. A prospective study revealed that 5 of 23 Alternaria-sensitive persons had precipitins before immunotherapy and another 6 developed precipitins during therapy. Only one of the 23 experienced a late Alternaria reaction. Thus, precipitins to Alternaria are common and do not seem to be the basis for the late reactions we observed. The finding of precipitins does not contraindicate immunotherapy.

Alternaria↗

LLPS-based classification and a novel prognostic signature reveal NRF1 as a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can alter biomolecular condensate functions and may influence pancreatic tumorigenesis and progression, but the specific role of LLPS regulators in prognosis and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. METHODS: We integrated transcriptome data of LLPS regulator-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;298) in a cohort of 176 PDAC patients from TCGA. Three LLPS regulator subtypes (LS1-LS3) were identified through multi-omics analyses, and a prognostic LLPS subtype-related risk model (LRRPC) was developed and validated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed NRF1 binding to promoters of key risk genes, and in vitro and in vivo experiments assessed the effects of NRF1 targeting on tumor growth. RESULTS: The three LLPS regulator subtypes exhibited significant differences in prognosis, clinical features, genomic alterations, TIME patterns and predicted immunotherapy response. The LRRPC signature predicted prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy across cohorts and was associated with tumor biomarkers and immune infiltration. Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 (NRF1) directly regulated hub genes such as FAM83A, RHOV and ITGB6, promoting PDAC cell proliferation, while its inhibition induced apoptosis and reduced tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study proposes an LLPS-based stratification framework for PDAC, and the LRRPC model provides an LLPS subtype-related risk score that may assist personalized prognostic assessment and immunotherapy stratification. NRF1 emerges as a promising therapeutic candidate whose targeting can inhibit tumor progression in PDAC experimental models and warrants further evaluation.

Immunotherapy↗