The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Neoadjuvant bintrafusp alfa in 6 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients rapidly reduces activated LRRC15+ cancer-associated fibroblasts and stromal collagen within 3 weeks.
- Why it matters: TGF-β supports fibroblast activation and is linked to resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, leaving a need for early, stroma-targeted biomarkers and evidence of rapid remodeling in patients.
- What they did: In a window-of-opportunity study, tumor biopsies before treatment and 3 weeks after bintrafusp alfa were profiled with scRNA-seq, imaging, and spatial transcriptomics, then independently checked in an additional neoadjuvant cohort of 6 patients.
- The result: Treatment significantly decreased activated LRRC15+ CAFs, remodeled stromal architecture with reduced collagen I and XII, and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration in immune-excluded tumors, consistent with fibroblast depletion rather than polarization shift.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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