Immunotherapy is increasingly used in cancer treatment, yet immune cells often falter because protein production drops due to exhaustion. Led by Monika Wolkers (Sanquin, Oncode Institute), in collaboration with Benoit Nicolet (now at the Netherlands Cancer Institute), the team created an AI-based method that decodes how messenger RNA determines the amount of protein an immune cell produces.

That precision matters: proteins are signals immune cells use to detect and destroy cancer. By understanding all contributing factors, immunotherapy — such as T-cell treatments — can be made more potent. The approach is also applicable across various cell types.

The study appears in Science Advances and represents a significant step in applying AI to oncology research.