Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of many cancers by enabling the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells. Many of these therapies rely on CD8 T cells and natural killer cells to eliminate malignant cells. This process depends on complex molecular pathways that are initiated when immune cells create pores in the tumor cell membrane. However, treatment resistance remains a major challenge, limiting the long-term effectiveness of these therapies.
The Stefani Lab is investigating how cancer cells respond to immune-mediated attack. By identifying the genes and molecular pathways that allow tumor cells to evade destruction by the immune system, the lab aims to advance understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to resistance to cancer immunotherapy.
