Cancer immune therapy

My  research career has focused on immune activation through co-stimulatory activation, e.g. 4-1BB, OX40, CD40, and other novel costimulatory molecules, and immune gene therapy. Our lab is a pioneer in this field and owns the patent on adenoviral gene delivery for cancer therapy in conjunction with suicide gene and cytokines or immune co-stimulatory activation.

Tumor Microenvironment

My lab was one of the first to identify a novel cell population with immune suppressive mechanisms.  I, along with several tumor immunologists, subsequently designated this population as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Our lab has investigated the mechanisms of MDSC and tumor associated macrophage (TAM) mediated immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment.

Immune Suppressive Mechanisms

We were the first group to publish a seminal paper reporting that monocytic MDSC can activate the Treg population in the tumor microenvironment, thereby establishing an immune suppressive environment. We have investigated MDSC  development, accumulation, migration and Treg stability and conversion in the tumor microenvironment and further validate our findings in clinical cancer patients.

Myeloid Cell Reprogram

My lab and our colleagues have identified the critical regulatory cell surface receptor responsible for controlling MDSC and macrophage differentiation. We were the first group to further demonstrate that modulation of MDSC function could transform the tumor microenvironment to one that favors anti-cancer responses.  Similar principles can be applied to the enhancement of the immune suppressive function of MDSC to control inflammatory responses and autoimmune diseases. Currently, my lab has developed a therapeutic strategy that is currently being evaluated in preclinical models, if successful, we will move these therapeutic agents toward clinical application.

Tumor Invasion and Metastases

Based on our scientific findings surrounding the identification of specific receptors/pathways on cancer initiating cells and stromal cells, we would like to explore and better understand how these interactions are involved in tumor invasion and metastases.