Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center Launches Immunotherapy Institute

The National Cancer Institute-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) recently announced the establishment of the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Institute for Immunotherapy for Cancer and Inflammatory Disorders. Dr. Xingxing Zang, a renowned figure in the field of immunotherapy, has been appointed its inaugural director.

According to Dr. Zang, who holds multiple academic positions at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is a senior member of MECCC's Cancer Therapeutics research program, the institute aims to lead the way in creating innovative immunotherapy techniques. The goal is to transition these innovations into clinical trials and eventually into effective treatments for cancer and other diseases. The institute will foster a collaborative environment, bringing together over 45 leading scientists and clinicians from various fields to discover new immunotherapy targets and develop novel drug strategies.

Immunotherapy has significantly transformed cancer treatment over the last two decades by leveraging the power of the immune system to fight diseases. Various forms of cancer immunotherapies include adoptive cell therapy, cancer vaccines, immune cell engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These therapies are designed to enhance or redirect the immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Dr. James Allison, Dr. Zang's mentor, won the Nobel Prize in 2018 for developing the first checkpoint inhibitor, a breakthrough that has since led to nine approved checkpoint inhibitors for treating different cancers.

Throughout his career, Dr. Zang has made substantial contributions to the field by identifying new immune checkpoints and creating multiple checkpoint inhibitors, particularly targeting the B7-CD28 protein families, which play crucial roles in cancer immune evasion and progression. Two of his checkpoint inhibitors are currently undergoing phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials for 12 different types of solid tumors and three types of blood cancers. Moreover, he has established his own company focusing on developing inhibitors for metastatic cancers resistant to existing treatments. Earlier this year, Dr. Zang's team at MECCC demonstrated that CAR-T therapy, a type of adoptive cell therapy, can effectively treat solid tumors.

Dr. Edward Chu, the director of MECCC, praised Dr. Zang for his expertise, creativity, productivity, and collaborative spirit, expressing confidence in his leadership for this significant new initiative.

The establishment of the new institute was made possible through philanthropic support, notably a $4.5 million endowment gift from Marilyn and Stanley Katz. This donation will provide ongoing financial support to the institute, enabling investment in promising scientific research that could lead to new discoveries and treatments.

Dr. Gregoire Lauvau, professor of microbiology & immunology and a member of MECCC's Cancer Therapeutics research program, will serve as the institute's associate director for basic research. Dr. Chandan Guha, vice chair of radiation oncology at Einstein and Montefiore, will be the associate director for clinical/translational research.

The Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center known for its excellence in cancer research and care. Located in the Bronx, N.Y., MECCC integrates the scientific expertise of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with the team-based approach to clinical care at Montefiore Health System. Since its founding in 1971 and subsequent NCI designation in 1972, MECCC has aimed to reduce the burden of cancer, particularly among historically underrepresented groups.