Cancer Cell Autonomous Regulation of Immunogenicity: Revisiting the Immunoediting Hypothesis

The project aims to identify specific tumor genotypes that naturally impact the process of immune surveillance and the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy. Our project uses genetically engineered mouse models that feature a fully competent immune system that is required to study gene-environment interactions. Identifying particular genotypes that actively suppress immune surveillance and those that are particularly sensitive to immune surveillance will reveal therapeutic approaches to enhance the durability of ICT. Moreover, defining the impact made by cancer-driving cell-autonomous mutations on immune surveillance and ICT will shift our mechanistic understanding of the immunoediting hypothesis and the etiology of human lung cancer.