Assistant Professor University of Mass-Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts
Cancer immunotherapy relies on the host’s immune system to fight cancer and has shown great promise in treating cancer. Current cancer immunotherapy has largely focused on the adaptive immune system, blocking the checkpoint interactions between T cells and tumors or engineering tumor-reactive T cells for adoptive transfer. On the other hand, innate immune systems, which play equally important roles in anti-tumor immune reactions, remain to be further exploited. To leverage the significance of innate immune system, we have developed a local drug delivery system carrying immunotherapeutics that activate innate immune cells in tumor, such as dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participant will be able to learn the effects of immunoactive polymer in activating innate immune response.
Upon completion, participant will be able to learn the effects of innate immune response in mediating anti-tumor effects.
Upon completion, participant will be able to learn the importance of the timely silencing PD-L1 expression in mediating anti-tumor immune response.