NFCR-Supported Study Helps Identify Cells That Naturally Fight Cancer

The Merkel Cell Carcinoma Collaborative (MC3) Institute is proud to announce the publication of a new National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR)-supported study led by Suzanne Topalian, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, and Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, Faculty Founder and Director of the MC3 Institute.  

The study titled, “A minimal gene set characterizes TIL specific for diverse tumor antigens across different cancer types,” was published on Feb. 3, 2025, in Nature Communications, and identified a small group of key genes that help find special immune cells called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) that naturally fight cancer.   

We sincerely thank NFCR for their support of this research, which has the potential to enhance methods for identifying and activating the immune system in the fight against cancer. 

Congratulations to the following MC3 researchers for their participation in this study:  

• Paul Nghiem 
• Rima Kulikauskas 
• Candice Church 
• Thomas Pulliam 
• Saumya Jani