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Q&A with Dr. Shengqing (Stan) Gu: Improving Immunotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

September 27, 2023

Shengqing (Stan) Gu, PhD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, aims to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia patients.

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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, killing about 11,000 Americans a year.

Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system target and kill cancer cells by detecting antigens found on these cells. Unfortunately, many patients develop resistance to this treatment when not enough antigens are present to detect the cancer cells.

Shengqing (Stan) Gu, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, received a 2023 PhRMA Foundation Faculty Starter Grant in Translational Medicine, for his research to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy for AML patients.

Gu’s lab previously found that a class of drugs called SMAC mimetics can boost cancer antigen presentation on cancer cells, thus improving the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, it is unclear whether these drugs will work for AML patients. Gu’s Foundation-funded study will assess the efficacy of SMAC mimetics for AML patients, providing a novel approach to improve patient outcomes.

Watch this video to learn about Gu and his research.

Learn more about the PhRMA Foundation’s fellowship and grant opportunities. Check out more researcher stories on our blog.