Cuproptosis enters the cancer-immunity circuit

Lei et al. demonstrate a self-reinforcing feedback loop in which cuproptotic tumor cells activate dendritic cells and prime CD8⁺ T cells, while T cell-derived IFN-γ in turn sensitizes tumor cells to FDX1-dependent cuproptosis. This reciprocal circuit provides a mechanistic rationale for combining cuproptosis-inducing agents with PD-L1 checkpoint blockade to overcome immunotherapy resistance. The findings, published in Cell, open a new therapeutic axis linking copper-dependent cell death to antitumor immunity.