Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and often treated with surgery (nephrectomy), but up to half of patients experience recurrence. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved durability yet many patients still don’t respond, and the reasons why remain unclear. Dr. Allison May is investigating a potential link between tumor biology and immune response that could help explain this variability.
Dr. May’s research focuses on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that makes cancer cells more aggressive. Her team has identified a “hybrid” EMT state in RCC tumors that is associated with both tumor progression and increased immune activity. These hybrid EMT cells may attract immune cells while simultaneously protecting themselves by upregulating immune checkpoints, making them potentially more responsive to ICIs.
Dr. May will use single-cell spatial transcriptomics to define the molecular features of this hybrid EMT state and its impact on the tumor immune environment. Her goal is to develop a biomarker signature to predict recurrence and ICI response, which could lead to more personalized treatment strategies in kidney cancer.
Research Focus
Kidney cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors, biomarker signature
Projects and Grants
Evaluation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in shaping the immune properties and immunotherapy responsiveness of renal cell carcinoma
