Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy

Program Co-leader: Xuefang Cao, PhD
Program Co-leader: Aaron Rapoport, MD

See the complete list of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy investigators.

The Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy (TII) Program at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center is dedicated to understanding the immune regulation of malignant disease, and translating this knowledge into the development of novel diagnostic, preventive and treatment regimens. The program provides a forum to develop interdisciplinary strategies that promote innovative research, create new therapeutic options and reduce the burden of cancer.

The overall goal of the TII Program is to develop and implement immune-based strategies to prevent, treat, and/or monitor malignant diseases and disease progression. To achieve this goal, the program focuses on enhancing adaptive and innate antitumor responses and mitigating immunoinhibitory signals. The program includes both full and associate members from University of Maryland Baltimore, University of Maryland College Park and University of Maryland Baltimore County.

The TII Program’s research and clinical endeavors fall under the following themes:

1. Cell-based cancer immunotherapies - Elicit active tumor immunity capable of reducing or preventing malignant cell growth.
2. Inhibiting immunosuppression - Develop strategies to overcome tumor immune evasion.
3. Cancer and inflammation - Elucidate the roles for infection and inflammatory responses in cancer development.

Here are examples of cancer immunotherapies and trials ongoing at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.

• Cancer Center Membership Application
• Read about the Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Program's recent FDA certification for groundbreaking CAR T-cell therapy to treat lymphoma.
• TII 2020 Annual Retreat Pamphlet