Why do some melanoma patients respond to immunotherapy while others do not? Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed melanoma treatment—but they don’t work for every patient. A new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine explores why, identifying inherited differences in mitochondrial DNA that may influence how patients respond to immunotherapy. By analyzing data from 1,225 individuals with metastatic melanoma, the team found that patients with a specific mitochondrial haplogroup—HG-T—were more likely to respond to treatment than those without it. While further research is needed, the findings suggest that mitochondrial genetics may play a previously underrecognized role in immune function and treatment response. 🗣️ “This research fundamentally changes our understanding of mitochondrial genetics in immune response biology and personalized cancer immunotherapy.” — Tomas Kirchhoff, PhD, senior author The results may one day help inform more personalized ...