
Ovarian cancer ascites lipids disrupt TCR dynamics to blunt T cell activation
A Nature Metabolism study shows lipids in ovarian cancer ascites rewire T cell membranes and metabolism, notably 18:0–18:2 phosphatidylcholine, which impairs T cell activation by disrupting nanoscale TCR clustering in the immunological synapse. These lipids alter membrane order and TCR recycling, reducing activation at physiological concentrations; pre-activated T cells can overcome the barrier, pointing to strategies to improve adoptive T cell therapies for ovarian cancer.


