Recent studies deepen understanding of tumor-immune system interactions and identify novel immunotherapeutic targets. Van Andel Institute researchers unveiled PTGIR as a lipid-activated immune checkpoint receptor on CD8+ T cells, modulating exhaustion and presenting a new avenue for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Separately, a viral barcode tracing technique mapped astrocyte-glioma cell crosstalk in glioblastoma, revealing potential targets to overcome cancer’s immunosuppressive microenvironment. Additionally, work from Nagoya University elucidated how macrophages engulfing dying cancer cells trigger cytokine cascades that paradoxically promote tumor growth, challenging traditional views on immune cell roles and identifying new therapeutic intervention points.