Reversing resistance to cancer immune therapy with antibodies that target GDF-15 protein

The protein GDF-15 is a potent immunosuppressor that is overexpressed in many solid tumours and impedes the effects of cancer immunotherapy. In a first-in-human clinical trial, the GDF-15-targeting antibody visugromab reversed GDF-15-mediated resistance to immunotherapy, resulting in deep, long-lasting tumour regressions in some individuals. Resistance to conventional immunotherapy can be broken by a combination of agents.