Unraveling Factors Influencing Cancer Progression and treatment response

Cancer immunology research has made significant strides in recent years, shedding light on the intricate relationship between the immune system and cancer cells. Our research delves deeper into the two host associated factors, biological sex and age, that influence immune system behavior during cancer progression and response to treatment.

Our lab's primary focus lies in deciphering how the immune system interacts with unique features within cancer cells and shapes the treatment naive tumor immune microenvironment, ultimately influencing the effectiveness of immunomodulatory treatments in bladder cancer. Current projects in our lab focus on understanding the combinatorial effect of factors such as biological aging associated immunoscenescence in females and males, local/systemic immune exhaustion, and chronic inflammation, on response to BCG immunotherapy in high-risk bladder cancer.

Host factors underlying bladder tumor progression and poor response to immunomodulatory treatments. Image generated on canva.com

Tertiary lymphoid tissue/structures form in a subset of high-grade bladder tumors due to chronic carcinogenesis associated mucosal inflammation. A bladder whole tumor section stained using Phenocycler CODEX technology

Immunomodulatory therapies have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment, offering new hope for patients. However, not all patients respond equally to these treatments. By investigating the dynamic interplay between the immune system and cancer cell characteristics, our goal is to unlock new insights that could lead to novel immunologic biomarkers, potentially enhance treatment outcomes, and pave the way for personalized medicine approaches.