NKT infiltration and rejection in melanomas
Pere Puigserver, PhD
| Award Type | Established Investigator Award |
|---|---|
| Institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute |
Current immunotherapies have dramatically improved clinical outcomes, but more than half of metastatic melanoma patients have poor responses and primary resistance. With time, many cancer patients develop acquired resistance and tumor progression. Nearly one third of patients with metastatic melanoma who initially respond, eventually develop drug resistance and tumor progression within 3 years. To improve overall clinical outcomes and patient survival, new immunotherapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Initial studies in our lab suggest that blocking mitochondrial (powerhouse of the cancer cell) activity generates melanoma rejection killing cancer cells. Through our work, we hope to provide potential new immunotherapies that take advantage of targeting natural killer cells and the possibility to engineer these cells for melanoma treatment.