Mentor: Adam Mailloux, PhD

Comprehensive Exam: 

Determining the role of tumor hypoxia on antigen processing within cancer cells

My Research:

The goal of the Mailloux lab is to determine the impact of hypoxia on tumor cell immunogenicity. My current project focuses on elucidating the mechanism behind hypoxia-induced loss in antigen processing machinery including the immunoproteasome, a specialized proteasomal isoform for the processing of tumor antigens. By better understanding what governs the immunogenicity of cancer cells, we can improve anti-cancer therapy effectiveness and subsequent patient outcome.

Publications:

Bi J, Witt E, Voltarelli VA, Feig VR, Venkatachalam V, Boyce H, McGovern M, Gutierrez R, Rytlewski D, Bowman R, Rhodes AC, Cook AN, Muller BN, Smith MG, Ramos AR, et al. Low-Cost, High-Pressure-Synthesized Oxygen-Entrapping Materials to Improve Treatment of Solid Tumors. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023;10(10):e2205995.

Coleman MF, Cotul EK, Pfeil AJ, Devericks EN, Safdar MH, Monteiro M, Chen H, Ho N, Attaar N, Malian HM, Kiesel VA, Ramos A, et al. Hypoxia-mediated repression of pyruvate carboxylase drives immunosuppression. Breast Cancer Res. 2024;26(1):96.

Presentations:

2024  Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Oral Presentation. "Tumor hypoxia blocks the induction of antigen processing machinery."

2023 Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Oral Presentation. "Tumor hypoxia blocks the induction of antigen processing machinery."

Awards:

• Fellowship Appointment, Pharmacological Sciences T32, 2022-present
• Minority in Cancer Research Award, 2023 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting