SUMMARY
The research of Leo Sakemura, M.D., Ph.D., pertains to treating cancer. In the past decade, a new cancer treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has been developed. It trains the body’s defense cells to fight cancer better than standard treatment does.
Two versions of this therapy are promising for blood cancers, including acute leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. However, they don’t always work in the long term. Dr. Sakemura studies whether cells surrounding a tumor might be weakening the therapy’s effectiveness. His research strives to understand this problem and find ways to target both the cancer and these problem cells. This will make treatment more successful.
Focus areas
- Determine how the interactions between the inhibitory molecule PD-L1 on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from people with myeloma and the inhibitory molecule PD-1 on CAR-T cells impact CAF-mediated CAR-T cell inhibition.
- Generate CAR-T cells that target both malignant cells and CAFs simultaneously and study the safety and toxicity of these dual-specific CAR-T cells in humanized mouse models.
Significance to patient care
The benefits that people can expect from this research are numerous. It delves deeper into the limitations of CAR-T cell therapy, shedding light on ways the treatment can be refined. It investigates how cells surrounding a tumor might be diminishing the therapy’s effectiveness. This research opens doors to strategies that can enhance the potency of CAR-T cell therapy.
A significant highlight of the project is its pioneering approach to generating CAR-T cells that simultaneously combat cancer and its problematic neighboring cells. This provides a more comprehensive treatment solution. Although the primary focus is on multiple myeloma, the principles and findings have the potential to be applied to other cancers, broadening the project’s impact.
By using innovative techniques and methodologies, the project stands on the cusp of unveiling groundbreaking treatments. These treatments offer renewed hope for more -effective solutions for managing cancer.
Professional highlights
- American Society of Hematology:
- Abstract reviewer, 2023.
- Moderator, Annual meeting, 2023.
- Frontiers in Immunology:
- Guest associate editor, 2023.
- Editor, 2023.
- New Investigator Award, Leukemia Research Foundation, 2023.