A powerful type of immunotherapy, called immune checkpoint inhibitors, have transformed cancer treatment by helping the body’s immune system attack tumors, but their benefits often don’t last.
In a paper published June 18, 2026, in the New England Journal of Medicine, Richard Hotchkiss, MD, professor of anesthesiology at WashU Medicine, and John DiPersio, MD, PhD, Virginia E. and Sam J. Golman Professor of Medicine and director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy at WashU Medicine, describe a promising approach that could help improve the efficacy and durability of these treatments.
The paper explains that while checkpoint inhibitors activate the immune system to fight cancer, there is a catch. They may also reduce the supply of important immune cells needed to keep that response going over time. The authors highlight growing evidence that interleukin-7 (IL-7), a naturally occurring protein in the body, may help protect and replenish those cells, allowing the immune system to continue recognizing and attacking cancer.
Early studies suggest that adding IL-7 to checkpoint inhibitor treatment may help patients keep fighting cancer longer without increasing harmful side effects.
“Our hope is to improve long-term outcomes for patients with cancer and potentially enhance other types of immune-based cancer treatments as well,” says Hotchkiss.