Cancer Biology and Immunology Program

The Cancer Biology & Immunology (CBI) Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) seeks to identify the basic mechanisms underlying cancer cell biology and anti-cancer immune responses. CBI member’s interests are aligned with major aims to: 1) determine the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating both cancer and immune cell functions; 2) elucidate the impact of inflammation on cancer cell biology and immune cell activity; and 3) define the mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulates cancer and immune cell communication to promote tumor progression. CBI is co-led by Philip H. Howe, PhD, a leader in the TGFβ and tumor progression field, and Sophie Paczesny, MD, PhD, an expert in basic and translational immunology. Members: CBI has 44 members from 13 departments. The cancer-focused direct peer-reviewed funding base for CBI is $8M (excluding training grants), an increase of 40% since the prior renewal, with 12 NCI projects ($3.1M, 35% increase), 29 cancer-related grants from other NIH institutes ($4.2M, 68% increase), three other cancer-relevant peer-reviewed grants, 13 training grants, and 134 students and postdocs. During the calendar years 2018-2022, CBI members authored 392 publications: 116 (30%) were published in top-tier journals (JIF ≥ 10); [intra-(17%), inter-(26%) programmatic, and inter-institutional (70%)]. Current Scientific focus: CBI investigators have shown that the tumor suppressor, BRCA1, inhibits transcription by blocking the recruitment of the chromatin reader and oncogene regulator, BRD4, which led to collaborative studies that examine how the hypoxia response and phosphorylation by the ATM kinase affect BRCA1/BRD4 function in breast cancers. CBI members are also investigating the involvement of the macroenvironment and inflammation in pancreatic cancer development and cachexia in a P01-funded project. Other CBI members are studying the roles of TME alarmins and RNA binding proteins, HuR and hnRNP E1, on tumor and immune cell functions. Demonstration that aneuploidy leads to a loss in the expression and function of genes involved in autophagic pathways led to a phase I/II clinical trial in advanced solid tumors using a combination of autophagic drugs. Program activities: CBI fosters intra-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research through monthly meetings, annual retreats, and seminars. In participation with the Transdisciplinary Cancer Teams (TCTs), CBI members promote team science with an emphasis on multi-PI R01 and P01-type awards. Members are frequent users of the Flow Cytometry, Cell and Molecular Imaging, Biorepository, and Translational Science Lab Shared Resources. With committed leadership, strong faculty recruitment, and promotion of transdisciplinary and team research, the CBI Program will continue to advance scientific discovery in all three thematic areas with the goal of translating basic mechanistic discoveries into therapeutic strategies and original clinical trials.