Topic: Cancer Immunotherapy: From Bench to Bedside

Speaker: Dr. Youwen He

                 Professor of Immunology

                 Department of Immunology

                 Duke University Medical Center (DUMC)

Time: 10:00-11:30, Mar. 15th (Wed.), 2017

Location: Room B323, Medical Science Building

Host: Dr. Chen Dong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract:

Cancer immunotherapy has made remarkable clinical advances in recent years. Antibodies targeting the immune checkpoint receptors PD-1/CTLA-4 and adoptive cell therapy (ACT) based on ex vivo expanded peripheral CTLs, TILs, gene-engineered TCR- and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have all shown durable clinical efficacies in multiple types of cancers. However, these immunotherapeutic approaches only benefit a small fraction of cancer patients as various immune resistance mechanisms and limitations make their effective use a challenge in majority of cancer patients. Our recent research has revealed a novel pathway consisting of host complement and the immune regulatory cytokine IL-10 that critically regulates host antitumor immunity. This pathway has shown remarkable efficacy in treating advanced stage cancer patients recently. We have also conducted clinical trials on personalized cancer immunotherapies. Research results from both laboratory and clinical discoveries as well as novel strategies to treat cancer patients will be discussed.