The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) hosted Session 106a during the 39th Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs on Friday, November 8, 2024. Available here are the presentation slides and video from “Session 106a: Leveraging B Cells for Anti-Tumor Immunity” as permitted by presenters.
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Daniel Hollern, PhD – Salk Institute
Among the cells of the immune system is a highly dynamic composition of lymphocytes known as B cells. To maintain tissue homeostasis, B cells leverage contextual information to mature towards diverse phenotypes and functions that include immune suppression and eliciting immune mediated cytotoxicity. Indeed, B cells can form regulatory B cells which engage T cells and other immune cells with molecular messages to protect tissues from autoimmunity and suppress cytotoxic responses. Yet, under other molecular signals, B cells can be induced to ignite and amplify effector immune responses when functioning as organizers of cytotoxic immune cell aggregates where they engage in molecular exchange and antigen presentation. Likewise, B cells are well appreciated for their differentiation into antibody secreting cells to elicit local and systemic immunity. In line with these diverse and critical functions, B cell heterogeneity, activation, and function is being shown to be critical to tumor progression, cancer patient survival, and responses to chemo and immune therapy. Together, this contemporary research on B cells has made it clear that there are abundant opportunities to improve immunotherapy by control of B cell function. In this session, we emphasize (1) the therapeutic utility of B cells, (2) showcase new strategies to mechanistically ignite B cell anti-tumor functions, and (3) discuss how B cells can be modulated within and outside cellular neighborhoods i.e. tertiary lymphoid structures.
To view the entire program schedule (including presenter permission to post) please click here.
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