UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 7

Much of the Cancer Center’s immunotherapy research is due through the Inflammation, Immunology, and
Immunotherapeutics Research Program, led by Drs. Donald Buchsbaum (left) and Troy Randall (above).
cancer cells to the macrophages and how this conversation
plays out. The hedgehog pathway permits for the formation
of blood vessels, which allows the tumor cells an escape
route from their primary location and to metastasize to
secondary organs. The ultimate goal of her research is
to determine if hedgehog inhibitors, currently in clinical
trials and FDA-approved for some cancers, can be used to
reverse that polarization and turn those tumor-associated
macrophages from allies to foes.
“Metastasis and immunotherapy research go hand in
hand,” Dr. Samant says. “Essentially what we are doing
is trying to understand the foundational basis of what
happens and how the tumor is changing its own immune
compartment.”
“The concept of using immunotherapy dates as far back
as the late 1800s,” Dr. Buchsbaum says. “It’s incredibly
exciting that a century-plus later we have real evidence that
we can put into practice.”
Looking Ahead
Going forward, immunotherapy will play an increasingly
important role in the research and treatment of many
diseases, particularly cancer. Both UAB and the Cancer
Center have placed an increased focus on precision
medicine, an emerging approach for disease treatment and
prevention that takes into account environment factors,
lifestyle and genetic history for each individual receiving
medical care. Much of that relies on genomic testing
and analysis, which has historically played a key role in
immunotherapy research.
“The original work that identified the expression
of the MHC II pathway was done through genomic
analysis,” says Dr. Buchsbaum. “If you can identify
gene expression in the tumor associated with positive
immunotherapy responses, then you can select the
patients to treat. That’s precision medicine.”
Research continues to identify genomic factors and
biomarkers associated with patients who demonstrate
positive immune responses to certain cancer treatments
and those who do not. Scientists across the United States
– including UAB – are conducting both pre-clinical
and clinical studies examining how to convert patients
who are non-responsive to treatment to patients who are
responsive through the use of immunotherapy alone or in
combination with other therapies.
“Ultimately, our work is all about the patient,”
says Cancer Center director Ed Partridge, M.D.
“Immunotherapy is one of the most important and fastest-
growing fields in cancer research and treatment, and it
has tremendous potential to change the way we treat this
disease. What’s more personalized than using a person’s
own immune system to effectively treat his or her cancer?
I’m proud that our center is actively involved in this fight.”
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