356P Nonanoic acid enhances anti-tumor immunity and CAR-T function by reprogramming CD8+ T cells

Metabolic reprogramming in lung cancer remodels the tumor microenvironment, with fatty acids serving as pivotal immunomodulators. While short- and long-chain fatty acids regulate CD8+ T cell function, the role of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs-nonanoic acid) remains unexplored. Nonanoic acid exhibit unique metabolic properties which passively diffuse across membranes to mitochondria, undergo direct β-oxidation, and generates propionyl-CoA to fuel the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Despite their metabolic versatility, the immunomodulatory potential of nonanoic acid, particularly in CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity, is poorly characterized.