Citations

Abstract Global incidence and mortality rates for endometrial and cervical cancers have been steadily rising, while these rates for ovarian cancer have decreased. Although these cancers represent unique diseases and challenges, overlapping biology and responses to targeted and immunotherapies create opportunities to advance research through shared knowledge and resources. In 2025, investigators funded by National Cancer Institute (NCI) Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) and other NCI-supported grants convened a hybrid meeting to identify challenges and knowledge gaps in translational research, highlight advances, define shareable resources and technologies, and foster collaboration among the Gynecologic Cancer SPORE sites, patient advocates, and NCI staff. Special sessions were arranged for presentations by Patient Advocates, Early-stage Investigators, Investigators Transitioning to Gynecologic Cancer Research. Meeting-wide workshops on Sharing Resources and Reducing Time to Activation of Clinical Trials and networking events were included. Collectively, the presentations converged on three overarching themes: (i) interception and early disease biology, (ii) development of innovative targeted and immune-based therapies, (iii) critical role of shared resources and collaborative infrastructure in accelerating translational progress. The unifying theme across disease sites was molecular advances to improve early detection/prevention and to drive therapeutic advancements. Novel findings discussed included: candidate precursor cells and mechanisms of high grade serous ovarian cancer development; therapeutic vaccines and their delivery methods for cervical dysplasia; identification of immune-targetable ovarian cancer antigens; various novel molecularly targeted drugs and immune-based agents for endometrial and ovarian cancers; and approaches to bypass drug resistance. Workshops delineated actionable strategies to further advance gynecologic cancer translational research.

Importance Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of premature death worldwide. Assessing the LDL-C–related burden is critical for guiding prevention and treatment strategies. Objectives To estimate the global, regional, and national burden of ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke attributable to elevated LDL-C (relative to 35-54 mg/dL) from 1990 to 2023 and to quantify the contributions of population growth, aging, risk-deleted burden, and exposure changes to burden trends. Design, Setting, and Population This comparative risk assessment, part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, estimated population-level LDL-C exposure and associated health loss in 204 countries and territories. Mean LDL-C levels were estimated using spatiotemporal gaussian process regression based on 806 studies across 161 countries. Relative risks were derived from meta-analyses of 38 randomized clinical trials. Population-attributable fractions for deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated by age and sex for adults aged 25 years or older from 1990 to 2023, with 95% uncertainty intervals. Exposure Population-level LDL-C concentrations. Main Outcomes and Measures Population-attributable fractions, counts, and rates (all ages and age standardized per 100 000) of LDL-C–attributable deaths and DALYs from ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke, with uncertainty intervals. Results In 2023, elevated LDL-C accounted for 3.6 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval, 2.2-5.4 million; 6.0% of global mortality) and 90.7 million DALYs (95% uncertainty interval, 58.9-123.3 million; 3.2% of DALYs). Although global all-ages rates remained stable, age-standardized death and DALY rates decreased by 45.6% and 39.5%, respectively, since 1990. In 2023, age-standardized LDL-C–attributable DALY rates were highest in Eastern Europe and lowest in high-income Asia-Pacific. One-third of the global LDL-C burden occurred in India and China. Population growth and aging drove the increasing burden, with notable regional disparities in LDL-C exposure and risk-deleted DALY rates shifting toward middle-sociodemographic settings. Conclusions and Relevance Despite declining age-standardized rates, the absolute LDL-C burden has increased since 1990 due to demographic changes and has shifted toward middle-sociodemographic countries. Measurement and surveillance gaps persist. Strengthened prevention, diagnosis, and treatment access strategies are essential to mitigate the health burden of LDL-C.

Abstract Background: The limited efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy (OV) in gastrointestinal malignancies has been attributed to an immunologically inert tumor microenvironment. While cisplatin is widely used as a cytotoxic agent, its immunomodulatory effects remain incompletely defined. We hypothesized that cisplatin may reprogram the tumor immune landscape to enable more effective OV-mediated anti-tumor responses. Methods: We evaluated the effects of cisplatin in combination with two distinct oncolytic platforms, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and adenovirus (AdV), across both in vitro and in vivo colorectal cancer models. In vivo efficacy was assessed using MC38 subcutaneous and peritoneal metastatic models, with analysis of tumor growth, survival, and toxicity. Immune profiling was performed using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), flow cytometry, and bulk RNA sequencing to interrogate changes in CD8+ T cell states and functional programs. Guided by these preclinical findings, a clinical trial combining XELOX, PD-1 blockade, and OV therapy was initiated (ChiCTR2500107607). Results: Cisplatin markedly enhanced OV-mediated anti-tumor efficacy across models, resulting in sustained tumor control and improved survival in both subcutaneous and peritoneal disease settings. This effect was conserved across viral platforms, indicating a virus-agnostic interaction. Mechanistically, cisplatin induced a robust interferon (IFN)–dominant transcriptional program, characterized by upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes, including IRF7, IRF9, and ISG15. Single-cell analysis revealed that combination therapy reshaped the CD8+ T cell compartment, promoting the expansion of a population with transcriptional and functional features of central memory T cells (Tcm), alongside reduced exhaustion signatures. These changes were accompanied by enhanced cytokine signaling pathways associated with T cell maintenance and function, including IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15. In vitro, the combination of cisplatin and OV increased tumor cell death and interferon-γ production, supporting a model in which cytotoxic and immunostimulatory effects are mechanistically linked. A phase I clinical trial has been initiated. In gastric cancer, patients with retroperitoneal metastases are being treated with OV in combination with PD-1 blockade (ongoing). In colorectal cancer, the strategy is being evaluated in the neoadjuvant setting with an rectal preservation approach. Conclusions: Our findings identify a previously unrecognized role for cisplatin in priming an interferon-driven immune program that promotes Tcm differentiation and function, thereby enabling durable responses to oncolytic virotherapy. This work provides a mechanistic rationale for leveraging chemotherapy-induced immune reprogramming to enhance viro-immunotherapy and supports the clinical translation of this strategy in gastrointestinal malignancies. Citation Format: Joseph Brandon. Parker, Zhongyi Dong, Tao Liu, Qisen Guo, Haoyu Zhang, Bo Ni, Long Bai, Yiwen Chen, Jiasheng Zong, Xiang Xia, Jiaojiao Zheng, Hoang Tran Pham, Aya Elalfy, Demarcus Ingram, Ahmed Abdel-Hakeem, Muhammad Ali, Shannon Hartzell, Zizhen Zhang, Vivienne Yang. Cisplatin primes an interferon-driven CD8+ central memory T cell program to enable oncolytic virotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer malignancies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of AACR Drug Discovery and Development (AACR D3) Conference; 2026 Jul 21-24; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(14_Suppl):Abstract nr B024.

Scattered tubular-like cells (STCs) are dedifferentiated renal tubular cells that repair other damaged kidney cells. This study shows that renovascular disease (RVD) induces site-specific 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) modifications in DNA associated with transcriptional changes and impaired proliferative capacity of swine STCs, which could be mitigated in RVD-STCs treated with an epigenetic modulator. Therefore, our observations may contribute to the development of novel approaches to preserve the reparative capacity of STCs in individuals with RVD.

Abstract The trabecular meshwork (TM) and ciliary body (CB) regulate aqueous humor dynamics and intraocular pressure (IOP), and TM/Schlemm’s canal (SC) dysfunction underlies glaucoma. Here, we present a spatially resolved multi-omics atlas of human TM and CB, integrating snRNA-seq, scRNA-seq, and snATAC-seq from over one million cells and nuclei across 112 donors with Xenium spatial transcriptomics. We identified 9 major cell classes and 21 cell types, revealing heterogeneity, including undercharacterized fibroblast and epithelial subpopulations. Spatial mapping supported TM fibroblast zonation and CB epithelial organization. Regulatory analyses identified cell type–specific programs, including OTX/PAX networks in CB epithelium and SMAD3/TGF-β signaling in fibroblasts. Integration with glaucoma loci showed enrichment of non-coding variants in regulatory elements associated with POAG and PACG. Age- and ancestry-associated remodeling revealed divergent fibroblast aging with increased PIEZO1 , suggesting impaired outflow and elevated IOP. Together, this high-resolution atlas links cellular, regulatory, and genetic variation to anterior segment function and glaucoma susceptibility.

Summary Human spaceflight has historically been led by government agencies, but the emergence of commercial organizations is enabling broader participation and new research opportunities. In this study, we present a comprehensive molecular characterization of early human responses to spaceflight, leveraging multi-omics data across the first three weeks of two commercial missions. Biospecimens from six individuals, four from the Axiom 2 mission (10 days) and two from Axiom 3 (21 days), were analyzed using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, alongside proteomic profiling. Individual and integrative analyses of these datasets reveal systemic changes in cell types, transcripts, and proteins related to immune regulation, osteoclast differentiation, NF-κB signaling, and blood homeostasis pathways. Importantly, several of the detected pathways align with physiological patterns observed in longer-duration missions. This work establishes a foundational resource for understanding early adaptation to spaceflight at the cellular and molecular levels, providing insights to reduce future space-travel health risks. Highlights First integrated multi-omics analysis using single-cell, bulk RNA sequencing and proteomic profiling of early human spaceflight responses across two commercial missions (Ax-2 and Ax-3). Distinct PBMC clustering was observed across Ax-2 and Ax-3, and post-flight samples. It showed fewer monocytes, dendritic cells, and megakaryocytes with increased naïve CD4⁺ and cytotoxic T cells. Multi-omics integration identifies shared biological signatures, including osteoclast differentiation, metabolic stress, and coagulation changes. These findings lay the foundation for developing countermeasures to protect immune, skeletal, and vascular health during spaceflight.

e14545 Background: Durable antitumor immunity depends on the maintenance of stem-like CD8⁺ T cells capable of sustaining long-term effector responses. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are potent immunomodulatory agents that reshape the tumor microenvironment and augment antitumor immunity. We hypothesized that platinum-based chemotherapy alters tumor-intrinsic type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling in a manner that can be functionally restored by OV therapy, thereby promoting the generation and persistence of stem-like CD8⁺ T cells. Methods: Tumor cells treated with platinum chemotherapy were evaluated in vitro for changes in IFN-I pathway activity, OV replication, and markers of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Syngeneic mouse tumor models were used to assess antitumor efficacy and immune remodeling following combination therapy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing and multiparameter flow cytometry to define CD8⁺ T-cell states and functional programs. Guided by these preclinical findings, a clinical trial combining XELOX, PD-1 blockade, and OV therapy was initiated (ChiCTR2500107607). Results: Platinum chemotherapy significantly suppressed tumor-intrinsic IFN-I signaling, while OV therapy restored antiviral responses, enhanced viral replication, and increased ICD in vitro. In vivo, the combination strategy resulted in superior tumor control and profound remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment. The most pronounced immunologic effect was observed within the stem-like CD8⁺ T-cell compartment. Combination therapy induced a distinct population of TCF7⁺ ISG15^high NFATC1^low AP-1^low CD8⁺ T cells, characterized by restrained activation, enhanced persistence, and reduced propensity toward terminal exhaustion. In IRF7-deficient tumors, this stem-like CD8⁺ T-cell population failed to emerge and antitumor efficacy was significantly diminished, indicating that moderate tumor-intrinsic IFN-I signaling is required for this immune state. Conclusions: Tumor-intrinsic type I interferon signaling is a critical determinant of synergy between platinum chemotherapy and oncolytic virotherapy, enabling the maintenance of durable stem-like CD8⁺ T-cell immunity. These findings establish a mechanistic rationale for combining platinum chemotherapy, oncolytic viruses, and immune checkpoint blockade and support ongoing clinical translation. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2500107607.