How an energy crisis drives T cells to exhaustion in tumors

MARCH 18, 2026, NEW YORK – The immune system’s killer T cells do a commendable job of detecting and destroying cancer cells. But the harsh environment at the heart of tumors often saps them of their vitality, pushing them into a state of permanent lassitude called “terminal exhaustion.” The phenomenon accounts for why so many tumors resist routine immune clearance and even cancer immunotherapies devised to stimulate their lethal capabilities. Terminal exhaustion is chara MARCH 18, 2026, NEW YORK – The immune system’s killer T cells do a commendable job of detecting and destroying cancer cells. But the harsh environment at the heart of tumors often saps them of their vitality, pushing them into a state of permanent la... [6079 chars]