Xuefang Cao, MD, PhD
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Granzyme B-Dependent Regulatory T Cell Function in Ovarian Cancer
While effector lymphocytes are known to mediate anti-tumor immune responses, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have recently been found to promote tumor progression in ovarian cancer patients. Perforin and granzyme B are cytotoxic molecules previously known to be utilized by effector lymphocytes to kill tumor cells. However, Dr. Cao’s recent studies suggest that Tregs utilize the perforin/granzyme B pathway to suppress anti-tumor immune responses. Therefore, Dr. Cao and his team will study ovarian cancer patients and mouse models to characterize the contribution of this pathway in effector lymphocyte-mediated anti-tumor immunity vs. Treg-facilitated tumor progression, and to dissect the mechanisms of granzyme B-dependent Treg function.