Cancer Immunology

The Cancer Immunology (CI) Program of The Tisch Cancer Institute (TCI) is comprised of 25 members whose common goal is to identify mechanisms underlying immune-mediated dysregulation in the TME and to develop novel approaches to overcome immune suppressive pathways. The CI membership represents 9 Departments and Institutes. As of 2024, CI program members were awarded $8.7 million in direct cost funding, including 26 multi-PI grants with 24 NCI grants totaling $4.1 million. From 2020-2023, the program published 356 papers of which 18.3% were intra- and 28.0% were inter- programmatic. 54.5% of published papers achieved an impact factor of >10. Thematically, the major scientific aims of the CI program are to 1. Characterize mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation in the TME; 2. Develop preclinical models to reverse immune dysfunction and restore immune balance, and 3. Validate correlates of response in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. While the role of T cell dysfunction is well acknowledged, evidence is accumulating that the innate immune system is analogously hijacked to enable tumor growth. In this regard, CI Program members are focused on discovering and translating new mechanisms whereby the tumor microenvironment (TME) impacts the function of innate immune cells including macrophages, dendritic cells and NK cells, in addition to tumor-reactive T cells. Accordingly, the CI program prioritizes cancers that are directly relevant to our catchment area including breast, colorectal, liver, lung, and prostate cancers, in addition to multiple myeloma (MM). Program members identify genomic, molecular and cellular pathways underlying immune dysfunction in their respective TMEs. They apply preclinical model systems, CRISPR screens and human tumor lesions, to identify novel mechanisms/targets underlying immune dysregulation and prioritize targets of immunotherapy resistance/response ultimately tested in novel clinical trials in conjunction with the CCI (Cancer Clinical Investigation) program. Based upon their findings, CI members are developing scientifically based strategies that will improve and/or expand current immunotherapeutic platforms, and collaboratively identify immune biomarkers of risk and response to treatment. The overarching goal is to progress discoveries that are made into innovative clinical trials to test and validate proposed correlates of resistance and response. Finally, CI members work in partnership and inter-programmatically to develop novel clinically applicable immune targets to effectively control or eradicate cancers.