Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD
Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, UCSF
Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, UCSF
Immunotherapy for melanoma and hepatocellular cancer has been my research focus since 1995. My team has performed human translational research and utilized cancer vaccination (with peptides, proteins, adenoviruses and dendritic cells (DC)) to promote antitumor immunity. My lab has placed importance upon careful analysis of the lymphocytes specific for tumor to understand the tumor-immune system interplay, and the effects of vaccination. Our current basic research is investigating the effects of antigen sources on DC and resultant T cell and NK cell activation. From our recently completed DC vaccine trial in melanoma, we are analyzing critical molecules and pathways in the DC vaccines, T and NK cells that impact optimal antitumor immunity.
We are investigating critical molecules and pathways in human DC that are important for effector cell activation and improved outcomes in patients, including CTLA-4, PD-L1 and ICOSL as well as cellular metabolism. We are also investigating key suppressive mechanisms involving the hepatocellular cancer-secreted molecule AFP, which negatively impacts DC metabolism and activity.
My team science work has been to help develop novel cellular therapeutics and monitor immunotherapy clinical trials with many collaborators. As a leader in the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), including society President (2017-2018), I have been involved in many cancer immunotherapy field-wide initiatives, including around biomarkers. I have published over 160 peer-reviewed manuscripts and mentored over 20 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, B.S., 05/86, Biology
University of California Los Angeles, Ph.D., 02/93, Biology
University of California Los Angeles, Postdoc fellow, 03/95, Tumor Immunology
University of California Los Angeles, Postdoc fellow, 03/97, Radiation Oncology