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Cutting out lymph nodes may cut cancer treatment success


New research shows lymph nodes aren’t just cancer bystanders, they’re the command centers fueling immune attacks. Surgically removing them along with tumors may weaken treatment, while preserving them could supercharge it.

“Our research suggests that removing lymph nodes during cancer surgery, a common practice to prevent tumor spread, may inadvertently reduce the effectiveness of treatments, such as checkpoint blockade and CAR T cell therapies. During checkpoint blockade therapy, lymph nodes are where the big T cell expansion starts, fueling the body-wide immune attack. By targeting these critical immune hubs, we could boost the body’s natural ability to fight cancer, increase the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies and help more patients respond to treatment.”

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lymph nodes