Vector Laboratories in Immuno-Oncology: CAR T Cell Trials, Immune Evasion, & Glyco-Checkpoint Blockade

Immuno-oncology research often hinges on the ability to characterize complex biological systems—the tumor microenvironment, effector T cells, immune checkpoints, to name a few. Probing these systems requires tools that reliably capture the spatial biology, perform in preclinical models, and maintain the integrity of precious patient samples. Five recent publications spanning pediatric neuro-oncology, tumor immune evasion, and glyco-immune checkpoint biology demonstrate how Vector Laboratories’ suite of antibodies, lectins, and immunodetection reagents support immune-oncology applications and can take research from the bench to the clinic.

GD2-CAR T Cells for H3K27M-Mutated Diffuse Midline Glioma

Nature (2022) — DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04489-4

Majzner, Ramakrishna, and colleagues report a first-in-human phase I trial of GD2-directed CAR T cells in four patients with H3K27M-mutated diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or spinal cord diffuse midline glioma (Clinical Trial ID: NCT04196413); a 2024 follow-up reports on the complete trial, including the total 13 patients enrolled. Three of the original four patients showed clinical and radiographic improvement, toxicity was reversible and tumor-localized, and the 2024 update reported tumor volume reductions of 52–100% in four patients and neurological improvement in nine of eleven treated patients.

To characterize the tumor microenvironment, the team performed immunohistochemistry on patient tumor cryosections using BLOXALL Blocking Solution, ImmPRESS-VR Anti-Rabbit and ImmPRESS-AP Anti-Mouse IgG Polymers, and the Vector Blue AP Substrate Kit. These reagents are highly characterized and suited to staining limited clinical specimens. For immuno-oncology, the data offer early clinical evidence that a single antigen-directed cellular therapy can act on this historically difficult-to-treat pediatric CNS tumor.

Immune Evasion Through Mitochondrial Transfer in the Tumor Microenvironment

Nature (2025) — DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08439-0

Ikeda, Togashi, and colleagues describe a previously uncharacterized immune evasion mechanism: cancer cells transfer mitochondria carrying mutated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. These mitochondria are protected from mitophagy by an inhibitory molecule which leaves recipient T cells with metabolic abnormalities, senescence, and impaired antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. For syngeneic mouse tumor modeling, the team used the MC-38 colon adenocarcinoma cell line, sourced from Kerafast, a Vector Laboratories brand. In tumor tissue from patients with melanoma or non-small-cell lung cancer, mtDNA mutation status tracked with poorer response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, a finding with potential biomarker relevance for treatment selection in immuno-oncology.

Antibody-Lectin Chimeras for Glyco-Immune Checkpoint Blockade

Nature Biotechnology (2025) — DOI: 10.1038/s41587-025-02884-6

Stark, Bertozzi, and colleagues describe antibody-lectin chimeras (AbLecs) that fuse a tumor-targeting antibody domain to a lectin “decoy receptor” domain—for example, Siglec-7-Fc or Siglec-9-Fc fused to trastuzumab—blocking tumor glycans from engaging inhibitory Siglec receptors on immune cells. Dual-blockade constructs pair this activity with established targets such as PD-1/PD-L1 or CD47/SIRPα. To characterize glycan engagement and build these constructs, the researchers used biotin-labeled MAL II lectin for flow cytometry and AZDye™ 647 DBCO for click-chemistry conjugation. For immuno-oncology, the approach offers a strategy for extending checkpoint blockade to tumors unresponsive to existing PD-1/PD-L1- or CD47/SIRPα-directed therapies.

A Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Method for the Brain Tumor Microenvironment

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (2025) — DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2025.1553058

Klonisch and colleagues developed a customizable, affordable multiplexed immunofluorescence protocol to study mouse brainresponses to laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT). Using the VectaPlex™ Antibody Removal Kit between staining rounds enables visualization of up to eight antibodies on a single section without cross-reactivity. The method captured microglial activation, macrophage infiltration, reactive astrocytes, neuronal injury, myelin fragmentation, and vascular remodeling within one tissue section. For immuno-oncology researchers, this offers a practical route to comprehensive tumor microenvironment profiling without a specialized multiplexing platform.

Sialylated Glycans and Siglec Receptors Suppress Anticancer Immunity via CCL2

Cellular & Molecular Immunology (2024) — DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01142-0

Wieboldt, Sandholzer, Carlini, and colleagues found that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) from lung cancer patients carry elevated inhibitory Siglec receptors and higher sialylation than MDSCs from healthy donors, assessed by flow cytometry with SNA-FITC and biotinylated MAL II lectin alongside MALDI-TOF glycan mass spectrometry, with sialidase detected by a neuraminidase antibody from LSBio, a Vector Laboratories company, for multiparameter flow cytometry. In mice, myeloid-specific Siglec-E deletion extended survival and increased tumor-infiltrating activated T cells. Blocking the sialoglycan-Siglec interaction reduced MDSC-derived CCL2 and improved T-cell proliferation in human and murine systems. The data highlight the sialoglycan-Siglec-CCL2 axis as a potential combination target for checkpoint immunotherapy.

Vector Laboratories: Bridging Discovery and Therapeutic Development

From the molecular underpinnings of tumor immune evasion, to preclinical tools and constructs, to cellular therapies in patients, immuno-oncology research requires tools and scientific expertise that span the full continuum from bench to clinic. Vector Laboratories reagents and services appear at each of these stages: detection chemistries and lectins supporting mechanistic discovery, bioconjugation and custom antibody development supporting construct and assay engineering, and IHC reagents supporting biomarker work on clinical trial tissue. Full citations and links to each study are included above for researchers who want to review the methods in detail, and more on Vector Laboratories’ immuno-oncology portfolio is available here.