Ping-Chih Ho

Mar 4, 2025 | nature.com | Mei-Ling Cheng |Yu-Ming Chuang |Hsiang-Yu Tang |Jia-Jin Chen |Hsuan Liu |Ping-Chih Ho | +12 more

Preclinical studies have shown that asparagine deprivation enhances T cell antitumour responses. Here we apply compassionate use of l-asparaginase, usually employed to treat blood malignancies, on patients with recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The use of l-asparaginase notably enhances immune-checkpoint blockade therapy in patients by strengthening CD8+T cell fitness. Our study shows that this combination is a promising avenue for clinical application and provides further mechanistic insight into how asparagine restriction rewires T cell metabolism. The compassionate use of l-asparaginase in patients suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma substantially strengthens the efficacy of immune-checkpoint blockade therapy by enhancing T cell fitness.

Oct 1, 2024 | cell.com | Ping-Chih Ho |Mai Matsushita

SpotlightOnline nowOpen access1Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland2Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandPublication History:Published online October 1, 2024DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.09.006Also available on ScienceDirectCopyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Sep 9, 2024 | nature.com | Ping-Chih Ho

Effector CD8+ T cells with cytotoxic ability are crucial for immunotherapy success. Two studies show that salt (NaCl) supplementation can enhance the effector function of CD8+ T cells and boost their antitumor responses.

Apr 24, 2024 | nature.com | Matteo Morotti |Alizée J. Grimm |Helen Hope |Marion Arnaud |David Barras |Catherine Ronet | +14 more

AbstractExpansion of antigen-experienced CD8+ T cells is critical for the success of tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in patients with cancer1. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) acts as a key regulator of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte functions by promoting expansion and cytotoxic capability2,3.

Sep 20, 2023 | nature.com | Noelia Maldonado-Pérez |Alessio Bevilacqua |Jhan-Jie Peng |Anouk Lepez |Kung-Chi Kao |Francisco Martin | +4 more

AbstractProtective immunity against pathogens or cancer is mediated by the activation and clonal expansion of antigen-specific naive T cells into effector T cells. To sustain their rapid proliferation and effector functions, naive T cells switch their quiescent metabolism to an anabolic metabolism through increased levels of aerobic glycolysis, but also through mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation, generating energy and signalling molecules1,2,3.