Immunotherapy,
a
type
of therapy that has been
researched
extensively
in
recent years and aims to
employ the body’s immune sys-
tem to fight off some cancers,
was a focus of the research led
by Weiping Zou, the Univer-
sity’s Charles B. de Nancrede
professor of surgery, immunol-
ogy and biology and the direc-
tor of translational research.
Zou said the fields in which
the study was based — tumor
biology and immunotherapy —
are difficult to work in because
only a fraction of patients
respond to the treatment and
the likelihood of response var-
ies based on a patient’s exist-
ing T-cell count.
“T-cells are the soldiers in
the immune system,” Zou said.
“The T-cells kill the tumors,
so the T-cells are important.
But the T-cells must be in the
tumor microenvironment, and
the T-cells must be also func-
tional in the tumor microen-
vironment. That’s the problem
we have been working on for
many years.”
Zou said the tumor microen-
vironment and the tumor itself
may affect the T-cells because
they all share the same micro-
environment.
“What we saw is that it turns
out the T-cells and the tumor
cells are actually competing
for glucose in the microen-
vironment,” Zou said. “The
T-cells are not able to com-
pete efficiently with the tumor
cells because the tumor cells …
could be resistant to the harsh
environment. Therefore, this
hurts the T-cells. The T-cells
are not able to be fully func-
tional, and they are not able to
kill the tumor in an efficient
manner.”
According to Zou, the study
ultimately concluded that cur-
rent immunotherapy clinical
trials with PD-L1 and PD-1
blockade, which are immuno-
therapy-based inhibitors, indi-
cate that tumors with a high
number of T-cells were more
responsive to these immuno-
therapy-based inhibitors than
tumors with a lower number of
T-cells.
Though tumor cells are
killed during chemotherapy
and radiation therapy, a num-
ber of healthy cells are also
killed, Zou said. However, in
the case of immunotherapy,
the tumor cells are selectively
killed, rather than employing
a treatment that could also
potentially damage cells in the
rest of the body, as is common
in chemotherapy.
Additionally, the side effects
of immunotherapy are more
manageable and quite mini-
mal. Some patients could be
cured of cancer, and others
will have a long-term positive
response.
“If the patient is not respon-
sive, it means they have very
few T-cells in the tumor,” Zou
said. “And even if they have
T-cells, the T-cells may not be
functional. One reason may be
they don’t have sufficient sugar
because of the competition
between tumor and T-cells. So
in that case, we have two ways
to reprogram it.”
The first is to reprogram the
T-cells to ensure they move
into the tumor. Once they’re
inside, the second aim is to
make sure they are resistant to
the harsh tumor environment.
According to Zou, while
researchers might not be able
to fix the problem immediate-
ly, they hope the new knowl-
edge may help drive the search
for a solution. Educational
institutions and many phar-
maceutical companies are now
working on finding methods to
reprogram the T-cells, and the
research continues to evolve.
“The strategy right now is
combination,” Zou said. “That
means you use different ways,
you combine them together.
For example, we know now
that the PD-1 blockade could
work. But for some patients,
we don’t see T-cells … So before
we do this therapy, we can do
something else, to increase the
T-cells in the tumor.”
Zou said much of what he
and his colleagues discuss is
why some patients are respon-
sive and some other are not.
Pavan Reddy, professor of
translational
oncology
and
internal medicine, works as a
tumor immunologist and phy-
sician scientist at the Univer-
sity familiar with this type of
research.
“The ability to manipulate
the immune system to get rid
of cancer is now one of the
most exciting methods of ther-
apy available,” Reddy said.
T-cells are probably among
the
most
critical
immune
cells in the body, specifically
for eliminating tumor cells,
Reddy said. However, because
not all T-cells survive and not
all are very functional in the
tumor environment, the paper
published by Zou and his co-
authors provides fundamental
insight into potential methods
to allow the T-cells to become
functional to kill the cancer
cells.
“Tumor cells use glucose in
a unique manner compared to
normal tissues,” Reddy said.
Reddy said the research
shows a surprising but impor-
tant connection between the
T-cells and their competition
with cancer cells for glucose.
He also agreed with Zou, say-
ing the use of immunotherapy
could present a much more
precise treatment compared to
other approaches like chemo-
therapy.
Because it would be difficult
and impractical to collect data
on all types of cancers, Reddy
said, the recent research was
done specifically with human
melanoma and ovarian cancer
samples. However, he said the
research is likely applicable to
many other kinds of cancers as
well.
does to speak to our ethics and our
system of values, but it has to do
with how to create campus envi-
ronment that is ideal for learning.”
During the address, Schlissel
pointed out the importance of stu-
dents feeling safe in their learning
environment.
“If you feel threatened by sexual
misconduct, you’re not going to be
able to learn,” he said. “We won’t
have an adequate learning envi-
ronment for our children.”
Schlissel spent a large portion
of the talk relaying the key points
of the University’s process for
investigating sexual assault and
describing how the process creates
challenges for all parties involved.
The
University’s
approach
is
defined as a student disciplinary
process instead of a criminal one,
and in 2011, it was changed from
complaint-driven to investigation-
driven, meaning the University
must investigate a known episode
of sexual misconduct.
In addition, Schlissel noted the
standard of proof for University-
based investigations is based on a
“preponderance of evidence.”
“If it is more likely than not,
then the person is found guilty,”
Schlissel said. “If a ruling is 51 to
49, the person is found guilty. You
only need a slight degree of cer-
tainty to adjudicate.”
Phillip
Margolis,
professor
emeritus of psychiatry, introduced
Schlissel, and noted the President’s
how his background in medicine
lends a unique perspective on the
subject of sexual assault. Schlis-
sel holds a Bachelor of Arts in bio-
chemical sciences from Princeton
University, and both a medical
degree and a doctorate in physi-
ological chemistry from Johns
Hopkins University.
“We need to learn how to
control, adjudicate and prevent
aspects of sexual misconduct,”
Margolis said. “You can’t escape
this discussion in modern society.”
Throughout the talk, Schlis-
sel repeatedly referenced two
recent
campus-wide
surveys:
one administered by the Univer-
sity and another national survey
conductedby the Association of
American Universities. The Uni-
versity’s survey revealed 11.4 per-
cent of students and 22.5 percent
of undergraduate females at the
University reported having experi-
enced some sort of nonconsensual
sexual behavior at the University.
Women were reported to be
eight times more likely to be sexu-
ally
assaulted.
Undergraduate
students three times more likely,
lesbian, gay or bisexual students
two and a half times, Greek stu-
dents two and a half times, and
underrepresented minorities two
times more likely to be sexually
assaulted then the general popu-
lation. Out of the students who
responded ‘yes’ to an incident of
sexual misconduct, 46 percent told
another person. However, only 3.6
percent told an official University
resource.
LSA freshman Kyla Klein had
a mixed response to the lecture
overall, saying she felt Schlissel
relied too heavily on statistics.
“I enjoyed learning about the
statistics, but I didn’t really see
anything to go forward from,” she
said. “I think we have the bodies to
deal with these issues, but we just
need more support and resources
in those bodies.”
Some of the challenges Schlissel
pointed out included the stigma
associated with coming forward
and revealing one’s sexual history,
the lack of direct witnesses and the
prevalence of alcohol and binge
drinking.
The talk touched on the Univer-
sity’s Sexual Assault Prevention
and Awareness Center and its his-
tory of sexual misconduct preven-
tion.
“This isn’t a Michigan prob-
lem, but a university-aged student
problem,” he said. “The University
has really been on the leading edge
of concern for students over sexual
assault.”
At the end of his lecture, Schlis-
sel outlined how, going forward,
the University needs to improve
the
investigation,
adjudication
and support processes for sexual
assault. Specifically, he said he
wanted to increase the number of
students coming forward, as well
as support for survivors on cam-
pus. The University is currently
garnering input to inform a revi-
sion of the University’s Student
Sexual Misconduct Policy.
“All this is happening in a cul-
ture that I think is very different
from the one most of us grew up
in,” he said. “What I am very proud
of is the University, with its eyes
wide open, has taken a very honest
look at itself, and it’s identified its
problems within itself.”
CANCER
From Page 1A
ETHICS
From Page 1A
2-News
2A — Thursday, November 5, 2015
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
THREE THINGS YOU
SHOULD KNOW TODAY
In her column, Anne
Katz reflects on her
grandmother’s life one
year after her passing and the
lesson she learned to never stop
moving.
>>SEE OPINION, PAGE 4A
2
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
Breast cancer
diagnosis
seminar
WHAT: A seminar
discussing the risks
associated with receiving
a mammogram.
WHO: Center for Bioethics
and Social Sciences in
Medicine
WHEN: Today at 3 p.m.
Drum and
Dance Society
WHAT: The Tree of
Life Drum and Dance
Society performs folkolo-
ric music from Africa,
Cuba, Brazil and more.
WHO: Gifts of Art
WHEN: Today from
12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: University
Hospitals, First Floor
The cause of death for
Lieutenant
“GI
Joe”
Gliniewicz of Fox Lake,
Illinois was determined a
suicide, The Chicago Tribune
reported. The officer faked
his death to cover evidence of
corruption. The manhunt for
his killers reached $300,000.
1
Hedy Habra
reading
WHAT: Arab-American
author Hedy Habra
will read from “Under
Brushstrokes,” her new
collection of poetry. There
will be a book signing
afterward.
WHO: Hedy Habra
WHEN: Today from 4 p.m.
to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Harlan Hacher
Graduate Library, Gallery,
Room 100
Jackie Biskupski was
elected
Utah’s
first
openly gay mayor, The
Salt
Lake
Tribune
reported.
Tuesday’s
vote
tallies
showed
Biskupski
defeated Salt Lake’s two-
term Mayor Ralph Becker 52
to 47.8 percent, respectively.
3
Refugee crisis
round table
WHAT: A panel of
professors will talk about
what forces are driving
the refugee and migration
crisis.
WHO: International
Institute
WHEN: Today from 3 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: School of Social
Work Building, 1840
Concentration
camps talk
WHAT: Prof. Dan Stone,
of the University of
London, will analyze how
concentration camps have
spread across the world
and become an “institution
of the modern age.”
WHO: Judaic Studies
WHEN: Today from 4
p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Tisch Hall,
Room 1014
TUESDAY:
Campus Voices
THURSDAY:
Twitter Talk
FRIDAY:
Photos of the Week
WEDNESDAY:
In Other Ivory Towers
MONDAY:
This Week in History
Wake Up
seminar
WHAT: Wellness Advocacy
Keen-ness and Engagement
in Undergraduate Programs
lecture where faculty of
color discuss navigating pre-
dominantly white campus.
WHO: Office of Academic-
Multicultural Initiatives
WHEN: Today from
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Student Activities
Space policy
WHAT: For the 2015 Nelson
W. Spencer Lecture, Genene
Fisher, the executive officer
at National Centers for
Environmental Prediction
will speak on space weather
services and science policy.
WHEN: Today from 3:30
p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Space Research
Building, Room 2246
The University tweeted a
“Humans of New York”-
inspired post.
“What’s something you think
people need to hear more often?
‘That each person is a miracle.’
#WolverinesOfAnnArbor”
— @Umich
“I respectfully ask that fans conduct
themselves in a 1st-class manner on
social media when commenting on play-
ers, opponents & prospects.”
—@CoachJim4UM
After a 2016 Ohio State football commit
backed out and Michigan fans rejoiced,
Harbaugh asked for fans to be kind.
Each week, “Twitter Talk”
is a forum to print tweets
that are fun, informative,
breaking or newsworthy,
with an angle on the
University, Ann Arbor and
the state. All tweets have
been edited for accurate
spelling and grammar.
Michigan Dining announced when
it is serving Thanksgiving meals.
“Thanksgiving celebration is on
Weds, 11/18 in all dining halls. And
Thanksgiving Day dinner is 11/26
at Hill.”
- @MichiganDining
FOLLOW US!
#TMD
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FEEL THE BERN
DAVID SONG/Daily
Community High School student Liam Knight chalks for
the Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign on the Diag.
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Redistricting
town hall
WHAT: The presentation
will address whether it is
fair that Michigan’s elected
officials draw their own
district’s boundaries.
WHO: The League of
Women Voters of the Ann
Abror Area
WHEN: Today from 4 p.m
to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Weill Hall,
O’Neill Classroom, 1230
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