Affiliation:
1. Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
Abstract
AbstractRecent studies revealed a new biological process that malignant cancer cells hijack mitochondria from nearby T cells, providing another potential mechanism for immune evasion. We further confirmed this process at the single‐cell genomic level through MERCI, a novel algorithm for tracking mitochondrial (MT) transfer. Applied to human cancer samples, MERCI identified a new cancer phenotype linked to MT hijacking, correlating with rapid tumour proliferation and poor patient survival. This discovery offers insights into the limitations of current cancer immunotherapies and suggests new therapeutic avenues targeting MT transfer to enhance cancer treatment efficacy.
Funder
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute