Sex differences in anti-tumor immune response: Males are more likely to get diagnosed with brain tumors and male patients have worse disease outcomes. We showed that sex differences in myeloid-derived suppressor cell subsets (MDSCs) contribute to glioblastoma outcome and comprise a therapeutic opportunity. We seek to uncover sex-specific immune mechanisms driving brain tumors in females versus males to develop personalized immunotherapies.

Epigenetic basis of myeloid cell behavior in cancer: We observed that MDSC subsets have sex-specific epigenetic profiles. We now seek to interrogate epigenetic regulation myeloid cell response in cancer, as well as host and tumor-derived factors determining their behavior.

The role of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) in glioblastoma (GBM) immune response: We recently identified DPP-4 as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. Our lab nows seeks to understand the mechanisms by which DPP-4 drives the accumulation of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and suppresses T cell activation in GBM.