UNIGE and CHUV researchers capture first 3D view of killer T cells in tumors

8 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 30

Published in Cell Reports, the study used cryo-expansion microscopy to image cytotoxic T lymphocytes attacking cancer cells in human tumor samples under near-native conditions.
The team found a dome-shaped immune synapse at the contact point and showed killing granules can contain one or multiple cores of active molecules.
Researchers said the method overcomes long-standing imaging trade-offs and could help immuno-oncology by revealing why anti-cancer immune attacks succeed or fail in clinical settings.

This 3D view reveals the T cell's weapon. Can it also predict which patients' immune systems will fail against their tumors?

Now that we can watch T cells kill cancer in 3D, how can we re-engineer them to overcome the tumor’s defenses?

This breakthrough shows how T cells kill cancer. Can it also reveal how to stop them in autoimmune diseases?