Itay Tirosh

Congratulations to Zuckerman Faculty Scholar Itay Tirosh of the Department of Molecular Cell Biology at Weizmann Institute of Science on the publication of “Single-cell analysis highlights the significance of malignant cell IFN/MHC-II for immunotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma,” in Cell Reports Medicine.  Using advanced RNA sequencing, Dr. Tirosh and his team identified specific cell subpopulations that drive invasion or resist standard treatments. Their research provides a vital blueprint for differentiation therapy, an approach aimed at rendering resistant cells harmless and refining the future of precision medicine.

Abstract:
In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), immunotherapy response rates remain modest, with difficulty predicting responders. Previous studies characterizing immunotherapy-associated cellular changes in HNSCC focus on immune cells, providing limited insight into malignant cell responses. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on 16 HNSCC patients pre- and post-neoadjuvant pembrolizumab treatment…elucidating the important role of malignant cells in immunotherapy.