Cancer Immunology Program

The Cancer Immunotherapy Program at CSB, directed by Christopher Garris, PhD, is focused on the major goals of (1) deciphering the mechanisms of tumor immunogenicity, (2) expanding the scope of analytical methods to assess tumor immune interactions, and (3) developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics. 

We have assembled a team of labs at MGH ( Weissleder, Pai, Hwang, and Garris) with diverse yet complementary research backgrounds who conduct basic and translational cancer immunology research. We combine advanced in vivo imaging, cancer immunotherapy, nanotherapeutics, bio-orthogonal chemistry, neuroimmunology, genomics, and drug development approaches into a comprehensive, collaborative research program. Our extensive technological expertise includes: in vivo cancer models, spatial proteotranscriptomics, 3D co-cultures, genetic engineering, patient-derived histocultures, and highly multiplexed flow cytometry and imaging. Our cancers of interest include head and neck, glioblastoma, pancreatic, bladder, and melanoma. To support these investigations, we have established biobanks of human cancer samples to curate salient features of human disease. We have designed a repertoire of mouse cancer models for proof of concept studies of novel therapeutics. These are used for mechanistic testing of drug activity through our long-term initiative to monitor anti-tumor immune responses in situ

In line with our major goals, we have established 3 pillar sub-programs for the CSB Cancer Immunology Program.

  1. Fundamental Discovery - Focusing on fundamental tumor-immune interactions, we seek to distill properties of tumor immune recognition through defined mechanisms. Studies utilizing the mouse as a model system, or primary profiling of human tissues
  2. Comprehensive Immune Monitoring - Development of new methods to explore immune function in vivo and in longitudinal analysis of treatment response. These studies enable not only enhanced characterization of the tumor microenvironment, but also define the mechanisms of action of therapeutics developed in the Therapeutics Initiative.
  3. Translation of Innovative Therapeutics - Using information derived from programs 1 and 2, we create novel therapeutics to treat cancer. Platforms designed in program 2 can then be used to define biomarkers of response and refine therapeutic dosing and indications

Research Projects

Tumor microenvironment

The growth of a tumor and its ability to progress and metastasize is influenced by a variety of host components, including various stomal and immune cells. Precisely how the microenvironment influences tumor outgrowth remains poorly understood. This Program utilizes recent advances in molecular imaging, nanoscale materials and gene profiling efforts to quantify and model cellular and molecular immune components of the tumor microenvironment. The approaches are aimed to discover fundamental aspects of immune responses to cancer and establish new paradigms for future translational efforts. Additionally, the Program investigates tumor-driven mechanisms that modulate immune cells in the entire body. This important considering that some tumors affect immune cell components well beyond the local tissue microenvironment and that immune cell subsets in various body compartment can regulate tumor cell dissemination and metastasis.

Immunotherapy

The first wave of immuno-oncology therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment by successfully demonstrating that enhancing antitumor T cell activity controls some cancers durably and provides impressive survival benefits. Considering that tumor microenvironments are home to diverse immune cell types, including cells other than T cells, it is a critical time to uncover whether additional immune components are relevant next generation immuno-oncology targets. This Program specifically explores ways for stimulating both adaptive and innate antitumor immunity, and methods for rationally identifying effective new drug combinations. The Program also uses new reporters and imaging tools to uncover how drugs affect immune cells in real time in vivo. By considering multiple immune cell types and examining drug response and resistance mechanisms, the Program aims to define new therapeutic interventions that stimulate immunity against a broader diversity of tumors and improve the quality of life of more patients. Targeting resistance barriers contributed by several tumor-associated host components may be particularly relevant for patients who resist T cell immune checkpoint blockade treatments.

Recent Publications

  • Das R, Ge X, Fei F, Parvanian S, Weissleder R*, Garris CS* Lipid Nanoparticle-mRNA Engineered Dendritic Cell Based Adoptive Cell Therapy Enhances Cancer Immune Response. Small Methods. 2024;:e2400633 - PMID: 39039995 - DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400633

  • Chen ACY, Jaiswal S, Martinez D, Yerinde C, Ji K, Miranda V, Fung ME, Weiss SA, Zschummel M, Taguchi K, Garris CS, Mempel TR, Hacohen N, Sen DR The aged tumor microenvironment limits T cell control of cancer. Nat Immunol. 2024;25(6):1033-1045 - PMID: 38745085 - DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01828-7

  • Kim HS, Halabi EA, Enbergs N, Kohler RH, Fei F, Garris CS, Weissleder R A non-lipid nucleic acid delivery vector with dendritic cell tropism and stimulation. Theranostics. 2024;14(7):2934-2945 - PMID: 38773971 - PMCID: PMC11103498 - DOI: 10.7150/thno.95267

  • van Solinge TS, Oh J, Abels E, Koch P, Breakefield XO, Weissleder R, Broekman MLD Probing the glioma micro-environment: analysis using biopsy in combination with ultra-fast cyclic immunolabeling. Neoplasia. 2024;57:101051 - PMID: 39270598 - PMCID: PMC11415813 - DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2024.101051

  • More publications ...

News

2018-04-04:

The work of Pittet Lab is featured in The Scientist - "Macrophages Play a Double Role in Cancer".

2017-12-01:

"Tumors talk to bones, and bones answer back" - Study by Engblom, Pfirschke et al. from the Pittet Lab is featured in Science and Nature. See also interview with the authors.

2017-09-11:

"Uncovering Cancer" - the work of Pittet Lab is featured in Nature Medicine article.

2017-06-05:

CSB work is profiled in MGH Research Institute spotlight "Mass General Researchers Investigate the ‘Big Eaters’ of the Immune System: #MacrophageMonday"

2017-05-11:

Checking out checkpoints: Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) are designed to activate the immune system against cancer. These drugs can be extraordinarily effective in some patients but not in others. Now, Mikael Pittet and colleagues have used molecular imaging to track ICBs in real time within tumors. Their study, published in Science Translational Medicine, uncovers a mechanism of treatment resistance, which can be overcome with additional chemical modifications. See also: the Journal Cover illustrating the “Tug-of-war with anti-PD-1” and interview with the authors.

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