This is a hybrid seminar which will be held in Glandt Forum (Singh Center) and via Zoom (link coming soon).

Precision Engineering for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is now considered the fourth pillar of cancer therapy, joining the ranks of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, only a small subset of cancer patients responds to cancer immunotherapy. Thus, new approaches are needed to amplify anti-tumor immunity, to convert cold tumor into hot tumor, and to potentiate immunotherapies with minimal immune-related adverse events. The gut microbiome has recently emerged as the next frontier in drug development; however, it remains unclear how to effectively alter gut microbiota for treating various diseases, including cancer. Here, we present new biomaterial-based strategies for altering the gut microbiome and improving the safety and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. We are developing new dietary fiber-based biomaterials for in situ modulation of the gut microbiome for augmenting local and systemic immune responses. We will present the therapeutic potential of our gut modulation approach in the context of improving the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockers while mitigating immune-related adverse events. In our second research thrust, we are developing a new nanoparticle platform for systemic delivery of STING (stimulator of IFN genes) agonists. While local STING activation can convert cold tumor into hot tumor, it has been challenging to develop STING agonists that can treat disseminated cancer due to their toxicity. Here, we will present our next-generation STING agonists that allow for systemic cancer therapy with potent efficacy, favorable pharmaceutical properties, and acceptable safety profiles in various murine and rabbit tumor models. Our biomaterial-based strategies may offer powerful and convenient approaches to regulate the immune system as potential therapies for cancer and other diseases.