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Derived from the myeloid lineage, granulocytes, including basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils, along with mast cells, play important, often disparate, roles across the allergic disease spectrum. While these cells and their mediators are commonly associated with allergic inflammation, they also exhibit several functions either promoting or restricting tumor growth. In this Position Paper we discuss common granulocyte and mast cell features relating to immunomodulatory functions in allergy and in cancer. We highlight key mechanisms which may inform cancer treatment and propose pertinent areas for future research. We suggest areas where understanding the communication between granulocytes, mast cells, and the tumor microenvironment, will be crucial for identifying immune mechanisms that may be harnessed to counteract tumor development. For example, a comprehensive understanding of allergic and immune factors driving distinct neutrophil states and those mechanisms that link mast cells with immunotherapy resistance, might enable targeted manipulation of specific subpopulations, leading to precision immunotherapy in cancer. We recommend specific areas of investigation in AllergoOncology and knowledge exchange across disease contexts to uncover pertinent reciprocal functions in allergy and cancer and allow therapeutic manipulation of these powerful cell populations. These will help address the unmet needs in stratifying and managing patients with allergic diseases and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study examined the relationship between asthma and obesity in children and adolescents. The study found no evidence that asthma hindered physical activity, but the exact mechanism linking obesity and asthma remains unclear. Another study identified specific volatile organic compounds that were significantly linked to the early onset of the "obese-asthma" phenotype, suggesting common risk factors for both conditions. A new study in this issue identified five plasma proteins that were significantly elevated in individuals with both obesity and asthma, suggesting a potential role for viral defense at mucosal barriers in obesity-related asthma. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between asthma and obesity and may contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. [Extracted from the article]

A retrospective cohort study conducted in the UK Biobank found that individuals with allergies had a lower risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization in the general population. However, this association was not significant in the cancer patient population. The study suggests that allergic diseases may have immune mechanisms that help moderate the hyperinflammatory effects of COVID-19. While there was no significant association between asthma and COVID-19 diagnosis, a protective effect from COVID-19 hospitalization was observed. Further research is needed to understand the specific effects of different types of allergies and asthma on COVID-19 risk. [Extracted from the article]

Significant advances in the treatment of several cancers have been achieved by the introduction of immune-checkpoint blockade, however response rates are variable.[1] Immune checkpoint molecules such as programmed-death-1 (PD-1) on T cells, are crucial for balancing immune system activation thereby preventing destruction of healthy tissues. Clinical benefit from anti-PD-1 therapy, and overall survival (OS) were positively associated with lower pre-therapy T effector cell (T SB eff sb ) IRC. Anti-PD1 therapy outcome can be predicted by pre-therapy IFN-I responsiveness of Teff cells. [Extracted from the article]

Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte associated protein‐4 (CTLA‐4) and the Programmed Death Receptor 1 (PD‐1) are immune checkpoint molecules that are well‐established targets of antibody immunotherapies for the management of malignant melanoma. The monoclonal antibodies, Ipilimumab, Pembrolizumab, and Nivolumab, designed to interfere with T cell inhibitory signals to activate immune responses against tumors, were originally approved as monotherapy. Treatment with a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors may improve outcomes compared to monotherapy in certain patient groups and these clinical benefits may be derived from unique immune mechanisms of action. However, treatment with checkpoint inhibitor combinations also present significant clinical challenges and increased rates of immune‐related adverse events. In this review, we discuss the potential mechanisms attributed to single and combined checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies and clinical experience with their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]