Dr. Feng Shao Awarded the Prestigious William B. Coley Award for Groundbreaking Discoveries in Pyroptosis and Cancer Immunotherapy
Genentech
Pharmaceutical R&D Manufacturer
Cancer Research Institute
It is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that funds cancer research and is headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1953, it is dedicated to developing immunology-based cancer treatments. Although its name indicates that it is a funding agency rather than a research institution itself, it collaborates with other institutes and organizations.
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
William Coley Award
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The William B. Coley Award is the top prize in the field of tumor immunology. Established in 1975, it honors Dr. William B. Coley, a pioneer in cancer immunotherapy. The award is administered by the Cancer Research Institute in New York and is given to outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to the fields of basic immunology and tumor immunology. Their scientific discoveries have deepened humanity’s understanding of the immune system, cancer, and other diseases, driving the development of various therapies based on the human immune system.
Among the scientists who have received the William B. Coley Award, several have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Ralph M. Steinman, Jules A. Hoffmann, and Bruce A. Beutler, winners of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, received the award in 1998, 2003, and 2006, respectively. James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo received the William B. Coley Award in 2005 and 2014, respectively, and were awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
New Discoveries in the Field of Pyroptosis
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Academician Feng Shao received the 2022 William B. Coley Award for his original discoveries in the field of pyroptosis. In 2015, Shao and collaborators discovered that gasdermin D (GSDMD) is the key execution protein in pyroptosis. Further studies confirmed that the N-terminal domain of GSDMD, after being cleaved by caspase, can bind to acidic lipids and form pores on the cell membrane, leading to cell death. The crystal structure analysis of mouse GSDMA3 revealed that the C-terminal of the full-length GSDMD structure can self-inhibit the pore-forming activity of the N-terminal. These studies redefined pyroptosis from "inflammasome-activated 'hot death'" to "GSDM-mediated lytic cell death," paving the way for identifying more members in the pyroptosis pathway. Based on the significant original discoveries made in Shao's lab in the fields of pyroptosis and tumor immunology, researchers have initiated a series of new drug development projects targeting inflammatory diseases and cancer by regulating pyroptosis using small molecules and biogenes. Currently, several projects have achieved breakthrough progress.
New Directions in Tumor Immunotherapy
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Shao Feng and collaborators also found that GSDME is often suppressed or mutated in tumor cells, and expressing GSDME in tumor cells induces pyroptosis, activates anti-tumor immunogenicity, attracts cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, effectively turning non-immunogenic "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors. This research makes it possible to activate GSDM in tumors to promote anti-tumor immunotherapy, providing new ideas and directions for cancer immunotherapy.(Translational Medicine Network 360zhyx.com)
References:
https://www.sohu.com/a/588716997_100156482
Note: This article aims to introduce the progress of medical research and cannot be used as a reference for treatment plans. For health guidance, please visit a regular hospital.