Topics and Trends in Most Cited Immunotherapy and Immune Responses Papers, Class of 2026

What topics and trends defined most-cited Immunotherapy and Immune Responses research in the Class of 2026?

In the Class of 2026, the tumor microenvironment and combination immunotherapy continue to dominate research focus. We also observed significant growth in spatial omics and CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, while traditional topics like broad antigen presentation and T cell exhaustion saw notable declines.

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Updated July 19, 2026

At a glance

Field: Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Cohort label: Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed: 8,915
Papers ranked: 20
Top topics in ranked papers: Tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoint blockade, combination immunotherapy
Publication window: Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility: Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window: 18 months post-publication
18m citation range: 108–369
Data source: OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026
License: CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 8,915

36918m citations

Individualised neoantigen therapy mRNA-4157 (V940) plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab monotherapy in resected melanoma (KEYNOTE-942): a randomised, phase 2b study

Jeffrey S Weber et al.The Lancet202410.1016/s0140-6736(23)02268-7

Jeffrey S. WeberNYU Langone Health, United States

mRNA-4157pembrolizumabpersonalized neoantigen vaccineresected melanomaKEYNOTE-942Phase II clinical trialcombination immunotherapyAdjuvant therapyPD-1 inhibitionneoantigenmRNA vaccinerecurrence-free survival

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#2 of 8,915

31418m citations

Neoadjuvant Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Resectable Stage III Melanoma

Christian U Blank et al.New England Journal of Medicine202410.1056/nejmoa2402604

Christian U BlankNetherlands Cancer Institute, France

neoadjuvant immunotherapynivolumabipilimumabresectable stage III melanomamacroscopic stage III melanomaevent-free survivaladjuvant immunotherapymajor pathological responsepathological complete responsepartial responseNon-responserecurrence-free survivalresidual viable tumorrestricted mean survival timeresponse-driven adjuvant therapyimmune checkpoint inhibitorssurgical resection timingtreatment-related adverse events

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#3 of 8,915

23618m citations

Safety, efficacy and determinants of response of allogeneic CD19-specific CAR-NK cells in CD19+ B cell tumors: a phase 1/2 trial

David Marin, Ye Li, Rafet Basar, Hind Rafei, May Daher et al.Nature Medicine202410.1038/s41591-023-02785-8

Katayoun RezvaniThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States

CAR-NK cellsCD19 CAR T-cell therapycord blood-derived NK cellsIL-15allogeneic CAR T cellsCD19+ B cell malignanciesphase 1/2 trialObjective response rate (ORR)progression-free survivalCAR-NK cell persistencecytokine release syndromegraft-versus-host diseasecord blood unit selectionnucleated red blood cell countcollection-to-cryopreservation timeeffector-related gene signaturehypoxia stress responsecellular stress programsmouse xenograft modelsdonor selection criteria

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#4 of 8,915

21318m citations

Targeting immunogenic cell stress and death for cancer therapy

Lorenzo Galluzzi et al.Nature Reviews Drug Discovery202410.1038/s41573-024-00920-9

Guido Kroemer, Francesco M. MarincolaWeill Cornell Medical College, United States

immunogenic cell deathcancer immunotherapyDamage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)calreticulin exposureATP releaseHMGB1 releasedendritic cell activationtumor antigen presentationchemotherapy-induced immunogenicityoncolytic virusesradiotherapyER stressautophagyType I interferon (IFN-I)T cell primingtumor microenvironmentabscopal effectcombination immunotherapy

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#5 of 8,915

20918m citations

Towards targeting the breast cancer immune microenvironment

Michael A Harris et al.Nature reviews. Cancer202410.1038/s41568-024-00714-6

Sherene LoiUniversity of Melbourne, Australia

breast cancerimmune microenvironmenttumor microenvironment targetingcancer immunotherapytumor-infiltrating lymphocytesimmune checkpoint inhibitorstumor-associated macrophagesimmune evasioncancer immunoeditingtherapeutic targeting strategies

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#6 of 8,915

19018m citations

Obecabtagene Autoleucel in Adults with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Claire Roddie et al.New England Journal of Medicine202410.1056/nejmoa2406526

Claire RoddieUniversity College London, United Kingdom

Obecabtagene autoleucelCD19 CAR T-cell therapyCAR T-cell therapyintermediate-affinity CARrelapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemiamorphologic diseaseMinimal residual disease (MRD)overall remissioncomplete remission with incomplete hematologic recoveryevent-free survivalcytokine release syndromeimmune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndromeDuration of responseCAR T cell persistence

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#7 of 8,915

17918m citations

Immunogenic cell death in cancer: targeting necroptosis to induce antitumour immunity

Pascal Meier et al.Nature reviews. Cancer202410.1038/s41568-024-00674-x

Dieter Adam, John SilkeInstitute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom

immunogenic cell deathnecroptosisantitumor immunityRIPK1RIPK3MLKLDamage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)tumor microenvironmentcancer immunotherapydendritic cell activationT cell primingnecrosomecaspase-8inflammatory cytokinesnecroptosis inducerstumor-infiltrating lymphocytesimmune checkpoint blockade

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#8 of 8,915

16018m citations

Afamitresgene autoleucel for advanced synovial sarcoma and myxoid round cell liposarcoma (SPEARHEAD-1): an international, open-label, phase 2 trial

Sandra P D'Angelo et al.The Lancet202410.1016/s0140-6736(24)00319-2

Sandra P. D’AngeloMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States

afamitresgene autoleucelsynovial sarcomamyxoid round cell liposarcomaSPEARHEAD-1Phase II clinical trialopen-label trialadvanced sarcomaautologous CAR T cell therapyTCR-T cell therapy

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#9 of 8,915

16018m citations

Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas

Michelle Monje et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08171-9

Michelle Monje, Sneha Ramakrishna, Crystal L. MackallStanford University, United States

H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomasdisialoganglioside GD2GD2-CAR T cellsdiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaspinal diffuse midline gliomaintravenous administrationintracerebroventricular infusionLymphodepletionDose-limiting toxicitycytokine release syndrometumor inflammation-associated neurotoxicityvolumetric tumor reductioncomplete responseneurological benefitclinical improvement scoreautologous CAR T cell therapymaximally tolerated dose

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#10 of 8,915

14318m citations

Combined JAK inhibition and PD-1 immunotherapy for non–small cell lung cancer patients

Divij Mathew, Melina E Marmarelis et al.Science202410.1126/science.adf1329

Divij Mathew, Melina E. Marmarelis, E. John Wherry, Andy J. MinnUniversity of Pennsylvania, United States

JAK1 inhibitionitacitinibPD-1 inhibitionType I interferon (IFN-I)Chronic inflammationimmunosuppressionNon-small cell lung cancerPhase II clinical trialCD8 T cell plasticityT cell exhaustioneffector memory-like T cellsT cell clonotypesterminal differentiationcombination immunotherapyantitumor immune responsemouse tumor modelprogressive diseaseimmune checkpoint blockade resistancecytokine-driven immune dysfunctionT cell differentiation dynamics

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#11 of 8,915

13618m citations

Evolution of myeloid-mediated immunotherapy resistance in prostate cancer

Aram Lyu, Zenghua Fan et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08290-3

Lawrence FongUniversity of California, San Francisco, United States

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancerimmune checkpoint inhibitorsSPP1hi tumor-associated macrophagesCSF1R blockadesingle-cell analysisCD8+ T cell suppressionadenosine signalingadenosine A2A receptorsA2AR inhibitionciforadenantPD-1 inhibitionPD-L1 inhibitionatezolizumabimmunotherapy resistancemyeloid-mediated immunosuppressionsyngeneic mouse modelsICI resistance mechanisms

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#12 of 8,915

13118m citations

Tertiary lymphoid structures in anticancer immunity

Jean-Luc Teillaud et al.Nature reviews. Cancer202410.1038/s41568-024-00728-0

Marie‐Caroline Dieu‐NosjeanSorbonne University, France

tertiary lymphoid structuresantitumor immunitytumor microenvironmentlymphoid neogenesisB cell folliclesT cell zoneshigh endothelial venulesGerminal centertumor-infiltrating lymphocytesimmunotherapy responseantitumor immune responsecancer immunologyimmune cell infiltrationlymphoid chemokines

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#13 of 8,915

12818m citations

Probiotic neoantigen delivery vectors for precision cancer immunotherapy

Andrew Redenti, Jongwon Im et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08033-4

Tal Danino, Nicholas ArpaiaColumbia University, United States

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917probiotic cancer vaccineneoepitope peptide arrayscytosolic deliverybacterial tumor homingEngineered probioticneoantigen-specific CD8+ T cellsneoantigen-specific CD4+ T cellsdendritic cell activationnatural killer cell activationregulatory T cellsimmunosuppressive myeloid cellsmetastatic solid tumorsblood clearance susceptibilityphagocytosis enhancementantitumor T cell immunityliving medicine platformsynthetic bacterial engineeringtumor microenvironment modulation

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#14 of 8,915

12318m citations

Personalized neoantigen vaccine and pembrolizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 1/2 trial

Mark Yarchoan et al.Nature Medicine202410.1038/s41591-024-02894-y

Mark Yarchoan, Niranjan Y. SardesaiJohns Hopkins University, United States

hepatocellular carcinomapersonalized neoantigen vaccinepembrolizumabPD-1 inhibitionGNOS-PV02DNA plasmid vaccineinterleukin-12Tyrosine kinase inhibitorneoantigen-specific T cell responsesEnzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assayCD4+ effector T cellsCD8+ effector T cellsT cell receptor β-chain sequencingvaccine-enriched T cell clone expansionimmune cell infiltrationsingle-cell analysiscytotoxic T cell phenotypesTCR complementarity-determining region cloningObjective response rate (ORR)complete response

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#15 of 8,915

12218m citations

Lymph-node-targeted, mKRAS-specific amphiphile vaccine in pancreatic and colorectal cancer: the phase 1 AMPLIFY-201 trial

Shubham Pant et al.Nature Medicine202410.1038/s41591-023-02760-3

Shubham Pant, Christopher M. Haqq, Eileen M. O’ReillyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States

ELI-002 2Pamphiphile modificationKRAS G12D mutationKRAS G12R mutationAmph-Peptides-2PAmph-CpG-7909lymph node deliveryMinimal residual disease (MRD)ctDNAserum tumor antigenmKRAS-specific T cell responsesCD4+ T cellsCD8+ T cellstumor biomarker clearancerelapse-free survivalex vivo T cell assayCpG oligonucleotide adjuvantphase 1 dose escalationrecommended phase 2 dose

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#16 of 8,915

11818m citations

Claudin18.2-specific CAR T cells in gastrointestinal cancers: phase 1 trial final results

Changsong Qi, Chang Liu, Jifang Gong et al.Nature Medicine202410.1038/s41591-024-03037-z

Changsong QiPeking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, China

Claudin18.2CAR T-cell therapygastrointestinal cancersPhase I clinical trialClaudin18.2-specific CAR T cellstumor-associated antigensolid tumor immunotherapyCAR T cell therapy toxicityObjective response rate (ORR)gastric cancerpancreatic canceresophageal cancerCLDN18.2 expressioncytokine release syndromeon-target off-tumor toxicityCAR T cell persistenceantitumor efficacy

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#17 of 8,915

11818m citations

Cancer cells impair monocyte-mediated T cell stimulation to evade immunity

Anais Elewaut, Guillem Estivill et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08257-4

Anna C. ObenaufResearch Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Austria

inflammatory monocytesintratumoral T cell stimulationtype 1 conventional dendritic cellscross-dressingpeptide-MHC complexesMAPK signalling hyperactivationType I interferon (IFN-I)Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)CXCL9Cxcl10IL-15cross-presentationCD8+ T cellstumor microenvironmentcytotoxic effector differentiationoncogenic signallingIFN-I cytokine productionPGE2 secretion blockadeT cell-mediated immunity

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#18 of 8,915

11418m citations

CD19-CAR T-cell therapy induces deep tissue depletion of B cells

Carlo Tur et al.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases202410.1136/ard-2024-226142

Maria Gabriella RaimondoFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

CD19 CAR T-cell therapyautoimmune diseasesdeep tissue B-cell depletionultrasound-guided inguinal lymph node biopsiesrituximabCD19+ B cellsCD20+ B cellsfollicular dendritic cellsPlasma cellsfollicular structure disruptionsecondary lymphoid tissuesnon-lymphoid organ biopsiesLymphodepletionimmunohistochemistrydrug-free remission

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#19 of 8,915

11318m citations

Intratumoral immune triads are required for immunotherapy-mediated elimination of solid tumors

Gabriel Espinosa-Carrasco et al.Cancer Cell202410.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.025

Gabriel Espinosa-Carrasco, Andrea SchietingerMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States

intratumoral immune triadsimmunotherapy-mediated tumor eliminationsolid tumorstertiary lymphoid structuresCD8+ T cellsB cellsdendritic cellstumor-infiltrating lymphocytesimmune checkpoint blockadeantitumor immunityspatial organization of immune cellsT cell-B cell interactionstumor microenvironmentimmune cell clusteringtherapeutic response prediction

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#20 of 8,915

10818m citations

Spatiotemporal single-cell analysis decodes cellular dynamics underlying different responses to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer

Yuqing Chen et al.Cancer Cell202410.1016/j.ccell.2024.06.009

Dongfang Wang, Aiwen Wu, Zemin ZhangPeking University, China

spatiotemporal single-cell analysisimmunotherapy responsecolorectal cancercellular dynamicstumor microenvironmentsingle-cell RNA sequencingspatial omicsimmune checkpoint inhibitorsimmune cell infiltrationtumor-infiltrating lymphocytescancer-associated fibroblastsmyeloid cellsResistance mechanismsresponder vs non-respondertemporal evolution

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Topic trends

Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Immunotherapy and Immune Responses

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The 2024 cohort for Immunotherapy and Immune Responses is heavily focused on understanding and modulating the tumor microenvironment, alongside optimizing immune checkpoint blockade and combination immunotherapies. By dissecting the cellular neighborhood and immune cell infiltration within tumors, researchers are developing more targeted and effective treatments. We observe a strong presence of topics such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, PD-1 inhibition, and cytokine release syndrome, reflecting a mature field transitioning from single-agent therapies to complex combinatorial strategies designed to overcome resistance and enhance patient outcomes. This shift emphasizes the field's commitment to personalized and precise immunotherapeutic interventions.

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

The shift from 2023 to 2024 reveals a dynamic re-prioritization in immunotherapy research. We see explosive growth in high-resolution analytical techniques, most notably spatial omics, which quadrupled in frequency, reflecting the field's need to map the tumor microenvironment with unprecedented detail. Simultaneously, specific therapeutic modalities like CD19 CAR T-cell therapy and the role of CD4+ T cells emerged as significant risers. Conversely, foundational concepts such as generic antigen presentation and broad studies on T cell exhaustion experienced marked declines, suggesting these areas have become settled science or are now integrated into more specialized contexts rather than serving as the primary focus of highly cited papers.

Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodology GitHub bioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Immunotherapy and Immune Responses Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/immunotherapy-and-immune-responses/2026. Accessed 2026-07-19.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459