Providence cancer researcher Eric Tran, Ph.D., received the inaugural Steven Rosenberg Scholar Award at SITC2020.
Researchers at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon, joined cancer immunotherapy professionals around the world for the reimagined 35th annual meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC2020), held online from November 9 through November 14, 2020. The virtual meeting included the most recent advances in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, cutting-edge clinical trials research presented by experts in the field, oral and poster abstract presentations, and networking opportunities.
Our team of immunologists and physician researchers received several notable awards at SITC2020. During the opening ceremony, Eric Tran, Ph.D., assistant member, Antitumor T-Cell Response Laboratory, was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Scholars Award. The two-year fellowship award was decided by a distinguished review committee of SITC leadership to support Dr. Tran's important work to advance the field of cancer immunotherapy and continue Dr. Rosenberg’s legacy. Dr. Tran joined our institute after completing a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Rosenberg at the NCI Surgery Branch where he studied adoptive cellular therapy.
A second honor was given to Bernard A. Fox, Ph.D., Harder Family Chair and member, Molecular and Tumor Immunology Laboratory, who was celebrated with the award for Extraordinary Service to the Society for his many years of leadership and dedication. Among his numerous roles of service to the society, Dr. Fox is a SITC past president and chair of the World Immunotherapy Council.
On the final day of the conference, our institute was presented with the SITC Team Science Award for fostering success in the field of cancer immunotherapy through long-standing and continued collaborative contributions of energy, activity, and intellect by team members. We are honored to receive this recognition, which reflects our steadfast commitment to improving patient outcomes through cancer immunotherapy.
Since 1993, our team has contributed to groundbreaking achievements in basic science and translational cancer research. We are deeply grateful to the patients, donors, community organizations and industry partners who have supported our pursuit to finish cancer.
Additionally, our team contributed to more than 15 abstracts selected for presentation at this year’s conference. Highlights include oral presentations and discussion at sessions for Combinatorial Therapies, In-progress Clinical Trials, and Cellular Therapies. Of note, Kristina Young, M.D., Ph.D., assistant member, Tumor Microenvironment Laboratory, was selected for a panel discussion on Best Practices and Future Perspectives for Integrating Radiation and Immunotherapy.
View all of our abstracts with links to further reading:
Oral Abstract Session
Combinatorial Therapies
Abstract 368: REVEAL: Phase 1 dose-escalation study of NKTR-262, a novel TLR7/8 agonist, plus bempegaldesleukin: local innate immune activation and systemic adaptive immune expansion for treating solid tumors. Diab...Curti et al.
Abstract 386: Phase I/Ib first-in-human study of HEK-NIZ985, a recombinant IL-15/IL-15Rα heterodimer, alone and in combination with spartalizumab, in adults with advanced and metastatic solid tumors. Leidner et al.
Concurrent Rapid Oral Abstract Presentation Session: Clinical
Abstract 420: Progression-free survival and biomarker correlates of response with BEMPEG plus NIVO in previously untreated patients with metastatic melanoma: results from the PIVOT-02 study. Diab...Curti et al.
Poster Sessions
Biomarkers, Immune Monitoring and Novel Technologies
Abstract 72: Routine use of comprehensive genomic profiling to assess tumor mutational burden across a community health system. Bifulco, Weerasinghe...Dowdell, Pindikuri, Reynolds, Biery, Ball, Campbell, Ward...Piening.
Cellular Therapies
Abstract 154: Marrow-infiltrating Lymphocytes: A Novel Adoptive Immunotherapy for Hematological and Solid Tumors. Lutz...Page et al.
Abstract 172: Increasing activation of human tumor-reactive T cells (CD39+CD103+CD8+) by gene silencing of PD1 with self-delivering RNAi INTASYL. Thalhofer, Montler...Moses, Rios, Moudgil, Fox, Morris, Bell and Weinberg.
Combination Immunotherapies
Abstract 443: An Immunotherapy Trio in advanced HNSCC for coordinated B and T cell antigen response. Fox, Moudgil, Hilton...Paustian...Sanborn, Bell, Laws, McDonnell, Koguchi, Bifulco, Piening, Ballesteros Merino, Jensen...Hu, Urba, Leidner and Couey.
Abstract 451: Combining Bempegaldesleukin (CD122-preferential IL-2 pathway agonist) and NKTR-262 (TLR7/8 agonist) pairs local innate activation with systemic CD8+ T cell expansion to enhance anti-tumor immunity. Rolig, Rose...Redmond.
Abstract 560: Alpha-tocopheryloxyacetic acid induces apoptosis of murine rhabdomyosarcoma in vitro while modulating innate and adaptive immune responses in vivo. Szewc...Dubay...Redmond et al.
Abstract 760: Trough levels of ipilimumab in serum as a potential predictive biomarker of clinical outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma after treatment with ipilimumab. Koguchi...Chang, Cha, Piening, Curti, Urba and Redmond.
COVID and Immunotherapy
Abstract 480: Preliminary evaluation of a novel coronavirus vaccine using electroporation of plasmid DNA encoding a stabilized prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike protein alone or with transfection of plasmid IL-12. Jensen...Paustian, Laws, McDonnell, Wegmann, Moudgil, Afentoulis...Piening, Bifulco...Urba, Leidner, Hilton, Hu and Fox.
In-progress Clinical Trials
Abstract 405: CDX1140-01, a Phase 1 dose-escalation/expansion study of CDX-1140 alone (Part 1) and in combination with CDX-301 (Part 2) or pembrolizumab (Part 3). Sanborn et al.
Abstract 407: Preliminary safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of XmAb20717, a PD-1 x CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors. Shum...Leidner et al.
Abstract 418: A Phase 1, Dose Escalation and Dose Expansion Study of SQZ PBMC HPV as Monotherapy and in Combination with Atezolizumab in HLA-A*02+ Patients with HPV16+ Recurrent, or Metastatic Solid Tumors. Eng...Taylor et al.
Abstract 422: An open-label, multicenter, phase 1/2 clinical trial of RP1, an enhanced potency oncolytic HSV, combined with nivolumab: Updated results from the skin cancer cohorts. Middleton...Curti et al.
Abstract 799: Durable responses and immune activation with intratumoral electroporation of pIL-12 plus pembrolizumab in actively progressing anti-PD-1 refractory advanced melanoma: KEYNOTE 695 interim data. Fernandez-Penas...Ballesteros-Merino, Jensen, Fox et al.
All abstracts from SITC2020 are available online. You can also view the complete Digital Program.
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