Cancer therapy linked to increased heart attack and stroke risks in diabetic patients

A recent study from New York University found that immune checkpoint inhibitors, used in cancer therapy, may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This risk is particularly significant for diabetic patients due to changes in immune interactions within arterial plaques. Researchers analyzed immune checkpoint expression in atherosclerotic plaques from patients. They discovered that certain immune cells, particularly CCR7+FSCN1+ dendritic cells, play a crucial role in regulating inflammation and immune responses in these plaques. The study also showed that cardiometabolic factors, like diabetes and lipid-lowering therapies, affect immune checkpoint expression. Blocking specific immune checkpoints in experiments increased T cell activity, suggesting that these therapies could unintentionally worsen cardiovascular inflammation in patients.