Riyue Bao, PhD

Research Project:
Tumor Cell Signaling May Impact Immunotherapy Response for Lung Squamous Cell Cancer

Grant Awarded:

Innovation Award

Research Topics:

basic biologic mechanisms
biomarkers
clinical research
combination therapies experimental therapeutics
computational biology
imaging radiology
immunology immunotherapy

Research Disease:

lung cancer

Immunotherapies have revolutionized treatment for patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma. However, most patients do not experience a long-lasting response. We are studying a tumor-cell pathway called p38 MAPK, which we believe plays a key role in resistance to a main type of immunotherapy called immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). By understanding how p38 MAPK contributes to this resistance, we hope to improve the effectiveness of ICI and develop new strategies to improve patient outcomes. Our research could pave the way for a large-scale, multi-year initiative aimed at enhancing anti-tumor immunity and overcoming treatment resistance in this challenging disease.

Update: Our findings are helping us to better understand how tumor cell p38 contributes to immune system avoidance and poor response to immunotherapy. They also show that blocking p38 can help overcome this resistance. In our trial, lung cancer patients who received both a p38 inhibitor and nivolumab experienced lasting clinical benefits. Next, we will continue testing patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and perform a deeper analysis of scan data from patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma in the second year of the study.

Page last updated: October 2, 2025

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