2014 UALC
Don Gibbons, MD, PhD
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Research Project:
Treatment Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis
Summary:
Non-small cell lung cancer is an aggressive and metastatic tumor type that accounts for ~160,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. Although recent advances in treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as PD-L1/PD-1 axis blockade, are producing durable long-term control of the disease for a subset of patients, primary and acquired resistance to these agents hamper their overall success. Dr. Gibbons is using genetically-engineered models and analysis of patient samples to understand the mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.