Unlocking the Immune Code: Predicting Melanoma Therapy Success

Why do some patients thrive on anti-PD-1 therapy while others don’t? Our latest study in the British Journal of Cancer uncovers a key clue: the immune landscape. Responders show higher levels of circulating monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and active T-cells in their tumors, while non-responders are hampered by suppressive M2 macrophages.

Even better, MDM abundance predicts better survival, making them a promising biomarker to guide personalized treatment. This discovery brings us one step closer to tailoring immunotherapy for each patient—giving hope, and precision, where it matters most. Congrats to first authors Stephanie van Dam and Danielle Krijgsman, for driving this study from start to end! Congratulations to the brilliant team, for demonstrating that an excellent collobation between clinic and lab can drive forward both scientific and clinical innovation.

Full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-025-03137-8