The DNA damage response and cancer immunotherapy.

DDR deficiencies and inhibitors significantly boost cancer immunotherapy responses by generating immunogenic signals that activate immune pathways.

• Why it matters: Understanding how DDR defects influence immune responses is crucial for overcoming resistance and enhancing the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
• What they did: The study reviews molecular mechanisms linking DDR defects to immune activation, analyzing recent advances in DDR-targeted combination strategies and resistance mechanisms.
• The result: Exploiting DDR deficiencies can improve cancer treatment outcomes by increasing tumor immunogenicity and overcoming therapeutic limitations.