Simmons Conference: Road to Independence Series: Dr. Kaltenmeier "NOS2/COX2 INHIBITION ALTERS THE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT AND DECREASES GROWTH OF HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER"

Kaltenmeier Laboratory

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently presents at an advanced unresectable stage and is among the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) are inflammation-associated enzymes with known oncogenic function. We have shown that these enzymes play an important role in the outcome of HCC and that targeting of iNOS/COX2 in a murine model reduces tumor burden and potentially improve survival. We further show that combination of iNOS/COX2/anti-PD-L1 inhibition is superior to single treatment PD-L1 and that the combination can produce long lasting anti tumor effects and memory T cells.