Journal Article

DKFZ-2026-01036

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Checkpoint Breaches: Unexpected Effects of Anti-PD-1 Therapy on the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Karreman, M. A. (First author)DKFZ* ; Winkler, F. (Last author)DKFZ*

2026
[Verlag nicht ermittelbar] Philadelphia, Pa.

Abstract: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy, and their unintended side effects relate largely to inducing autoimmunity; effects on vascular functions have only rarely been observed so far. In this issue of Cancer Discovery, a puzzling finding is reported that has divergent clinical implications: PD-1 inhibitors make cytotoxic T lymphocytes secrete a Wnt pathway suppressor to the blood that opens the blood-brain barrier, both allowing circulating tumor cells to enter the brain and a chemotherapeutic to better reach tumor cells in brain metastases. See related article by Deo et al., p. 976.

Keyword(s): Blood-Brain Barrier: drug effects (MeSH) ; Blood-Brain Barrier: metabolism (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: therapeutic use (MeSH) ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: pharmacology (MeSH) ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: adverse effects (MeSH) ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor: antagonists & inhibitors (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: secondary (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: drug therapy (MeSH) ; Animals (MeSH) ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; PDCD1 protein, human

Note: #EA:B320#LA:B320# / #DKTKZFB26#

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. KKE Neuroonkologie (B320)
2. DKTK HD zentral (HD01)

Research Program(s):

1. 312 - Funktionelle und strukturelle Genomforschung (POF4-312) (POF4-312)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 25 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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