Lab-grown human immune system reveals weakened response in cancer patients

Miniature models of the immune system could significantly speed up vaccine development and improve cancer treatment outcomes.

A team of Georgia Tech researchers has developed lab-grown immune systems that replicate human tonsil and lymph node tissue to more accurately study immune responses. The miniature models were created to better understand why some cancer patients have difficulty fighting infections.

These models, known as human immune organoids, recapitulate the natural environment in which immune cells are trained to recognize and fight harmful agents and respond to vaccines. These organoids will enable more precise studies of immune function in cancer and will likely speed up the development of vaccines and help better predict how patients will respond to treatment.

The researchers used synthetic hydrogels to create a microenvironment in which B cells from human blood and tonsils could develop and produce antibodies. When immune cells from healthy donors or lymphoma patients are grown in these gel-like media, the organoids support their longevity and activity, which influences antibody production and adaptation, reminiscent of how the immune system works in the body. The use of organoids in individual patients helps predict how a person will respond to infection.

Using organoids as part of a new technology-on-a-chip, the team found that immune cells in lymphoma survivors treated with immunotherapy did not form the characteristic “zones” that typically occur during a strong immune response. This response may help explain some of the immune problems faced by cancer survivors, according to recent clinical studies.

Scientists suggest that this study will help doctors in the future identify patients who will benefit from specific interventions during treatment, without the risk of contracting infections.