Natividad Fuentes, Jr., PhD

Cancer can train the immune system to look away. In many solid tumors, such as pancreatic cancer and melanoma, “killer” T cells enter the tumor but become tired and stop attacking. This project studies why that happens by focusing on the outside surface of T cells, called the membrane.The membrane is like a control panel made of fats and proteins. When this panel is well organized, signals gather in the right spots, helping a T cell grab a cancer cell and destroy it. In the harsh setting inside a tumor, this surface may become too loose or mixed up. Then the T cell may not get a strong “attack” message.We will study T cells from tumors to learn how their surface changes as they lose strength. We will also search for the cell programs that help T cells keep a healthier surface under stress. Finally, we will use these lessons to design stronger immune cell treatments. Some of these treatments could be made ahead of time and used for many patients, which may improve access and lower costs.This work matters because many people with solid tumors do not benefit long from current immunotherapy. By learning how to keep cancer-fighting immune cells strong, this research could lead to better tests of T cell health and new treatments that work longer and help more people with cancer.