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SUMMARY:EPFL BioE Talks SERIES  "Stiffening Cancer Cells Enhances T-Cell M
 echanical Force and Anti-Tumor Efficacy"
DTSTART:20210426T163000
DTEND:20210426T170000
DTSTAMP:20260917T070531Z
UID:456595049d29713ffdf7b572e8874fdc320e6a6749c519dfa893b78d
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Li Tang\, Institute of Bioengineering & Institute of Mat
 erials\, EPFL\, Lausanne (CH)\nWEEKLY EPFL BIOE TALKS SERIES\n\n(note that
  this talk is number two of a double-feature seminar - see details of the 
 first talk here)\n\nAbstract:\nCancer cell softening accompanies malignanc
 y and promotes tumor progression. However\, the impact of cancer cell biom
 echanics on T-cell mediated cytotoxicity and thus the therapeutic outcome 
 of immunotherapy remains elusive. In this talk\, I will show that cancer c
 ell softness deriving from the enrichment of endogenous cholesterol in the
  plasma membrane hampers T-cell mediated killing. Stiffening the cancer ce
 lls through cholesterol depletion is an effective biomechanical interventi
 on leading to enhanced cytotoxicity of T-cells and efficacy of adoptive T-
 cell immunotherapy against solid tumors in multiple models. Stiffening can
 cer cells has a negligible influence on T-cell receptor signaling and subs
 equent cytolytic enzyme degranulation (e.g.\, granzyme B)\, cytokine secre
 tion (e.g.\, IFN-γ and TNF-α)\, or Fas/Fas ligand interaction. Instead\,
  the enhanced cytotoxicity against stiffened cancer cells is mediated by a
 ugmented T-cell forces arising from increased F-actin polymerization. Our 
 study reveals a new type of immune checkpoint of mechanical basis\, which 
 is distinct from biochemical ones. Therapeutically targeting this mechanic
 al immune checkpoint may improve patients’ response to cancer immunother
 apies.\n\nBio:\nLi Tang received his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking Univers
 ity in China in 2007\, and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering 
 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign\, USA\, in 2012\, under th
 e supervision of Prof. Jianjun Cheng. He was an Irvington Postdoctoral Fel
 low in the laboratory of Prof. Darrell Irvine at Massachusetts Institute o
 f Technology during 2013-2016. He joined the faculty of Institute of Bioen
 gineering\, and Institute of Materials Science & Engineering\, at École p
 olytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)\, Lausanne\, Switzerland\, as a
  Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in 2016. His research focuses on modul
 ating the immune system using smart biomaterials to develop novel vaccines
  and immunotherapies. Dr. Tang is the recipient of Anna Fuller Award (2021
 )\, Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator (2020)\, MIT Technology Revie
 w’s "Top 35 Innovators under Age 35" list of China region (2020)\, Biom
 aterials Science Emerging Investigator (2019)\, European Research Council
  (ERC) Starting grant (2018)\, Nano Research Young Innovator Award (NR 45 
 under 45 in the world) (2018)\, and Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship from
  Cancer Research Institute (2013).\n\n\nZoom link (with registration) for 
 attending remotely: https://go.epfl.ch/EPFLBioETalks\n\n\nIMPORTANT NOTICE
 : due to restrictions resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic\, this 
 seminar can be followed via Zoom web-streaming only\, (following prior one
 -time registration through the link above).
LOCATION:via Zoom web-streaming only\, due to Covid-19 pandemic https://go
 .epfl.ch/EPFLBioETalks https://go.epfl.ch/EPFLBioETalks
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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