814-Cancer Immunity and the Origins of NMDAR Autoimmunity

Paper Talk · Apr 18, 2026 · 25m

This research establishes a mechanical link between triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the autoimmune condition anti-NMDA receptor (ANRE) encephalitis. The study demonstrates that when tumors ectopically express NMDAR subunits, they trigger a robust adaptive immune response where germline-encoded B cells undergo affinity maturation to produce high-affinity autoantibodies. While these antibodies can successfully constrain tumor growth, they also cross the blood-brain barrier to interfere with neuronal signaling. Structural analysis via cryo-EM reveals that different matured antibodies…