SITC Immune Exclusion Virtual Summit

Problem Statement

Immune-excluded tumors, characterized by lymphocytes that surround the tumor but fail to penetrate it, represent about one-third of cancers. The mechanisms underlying immune exclusion remain unclear but may include some combination of physical and/or functional barriers that prevent infiltration of immune cells into the tumor. Defining the unique biology of immune-excluded tumors and elucidating the mechanisms underlying immune exclusion will identify new strategies for cancer immunotherapy, especially in the field of adoptive cellular therapy.

Summit Goals and Objectives

The primary objective of the SITC Immune Exclusion Virtual Summit is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of immune exclusion in distinct tumor types. Secondary goals include exploring how exclusion biology manifests in different tumor types; reviewing molecular tools available to study immune-excluded tumors; and defining the unique biology of immune-excluded cancers relative to immune-infiltrated and immune-desert tumors.

Summit Organizers

Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD –Ankyra Therapeutics

Dan Chen, MD, PhD – Engenuity Life Sciences

Davide Bedognetti, MD, PhD – Kite Pharma

Francesco Marincola, MD – Sonata Therapeutics

Sara Pai, MD, PhD – Yale University School of Medicine

Sarah Warren, PhD – Kite Pharma

Christine Moussion, PhD – Genentech

You can find more program details and the summit agenda here.