Research Knowledgebase

Samita S. Andreansky, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics View full faculty profile

Description of Research

The complexity and heterogeneity of malignancies requires a multidisciplinary approach to study anti-cancer immunotherapy and to develop it as part of treatment. The focus of Dr. Andreansky’s research is to explore synergistic methods in treating preclinical cancer models, such as breast cancer and virally induced cancers. Particular emphasis is being given to the host immunoregulatory mechanisms (checkpoints) that may control the development and maintenance of adaptive immunity. Specific projects include:

• Blocking of negative signals generated by the tumor to down-regulate host immunity in combination with therapeutic immunization strategies such as DNA vaccines or oncolytic viruses encoding tumor specific genes
• Assessing adjuvant therapies such as heat shock proteins in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs
• Targeting specific cancer- related pathways such as growth protein coupled receptors using inhibitors and novel strategies such as RNA based aptamers (collaboration with Dr. Eli Gilboa)

Selected Cancer-Related Publications

Li G, Andreansky S, Helguera G, Sepassi M, Janikashvili N, Lacasse C, Cantrell J, Larmonier N, Penichet ML, Katsanis E. A chaperone protein enriched tumor cell lysate vaccine generates protective humoral immunity in a mouse breast cancer model. Mol. Cancer Ther. 3: 721-729, 2008. PubMed link

Larmonier N, Cantrell J, Lacasse C, Li G, Janikashvili N, Situ E, Sepassi M, Andreansky S, Katsanis E. Chaperone-rich tumor cell lysate-mediated activation of antigen-presenting cells resists regulatory T cell suppression. J Leukoc Biol. 83(4): 1049-59, 2008. PubMed link

Li G, Zeng Y, Chen X, Larmonier N, Sepassi M, Marron M, Graner MW, Andreansky S, Brewer M.A, Katsanis E. Human ovarian tumor-derived chaperone-rich cell lysate (CRCL) elicits T cell responses in vitro. Clin. and Expt. Immunol. 148:136-45, 2007.

Larmonier N, Marron M, Zeng Y, Cantrell J, Romanoski A, Sepassi M, Thompson S, Chen X, Andreansky S, Katsanis E. Tumor-derived CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells suppression of dendritic cell function involves TGF-beta and IL-10. Cancer Immun. Immunother. 56:48-59, 2007. PubMed link

For full description of Multidisciplinary Research Program(s), Viral Oncology Program, Tumor Immunobiology Program.