Lupus-Linked Antibody Boosts Effectiveness of Cancer Therapies

Yale researchers, including members of the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale, have uncovered a novel lupus-associated autoantibody that can enhance immune responses against aggressive cancers like glioblastoma.

Yale researchers have uncovered a novel lupus-associated autoantibody that can enhance immune responses against aggressive cancers like glioblastoma. This autoantibody enters tumor cells and binds intracellular RNA, triggering the cGAS pathway and boosting tumor immunity. Published in Science Signaling (March 25, 2025), the study showed that combining this antibody with checkpoint inhibitors significantly improved anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models

The research was generously funded in part by the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale, which supports innovative autoimmune-related projects. It was led by James Hansen, MD, radiation oncology chief of Yale's Gamma Knife Program, and a member of Yale Cancer Center and the Colton Center. This work exemplifies how cross-disciplinary support—from autoimmunity research to cancer immunotherapy—can yield impactful advances in treatment.

Read the full story from Yale School of Medicine.

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