By Department of Medicine Communications | Date published: January 14, 2025

Ann Moormann to Explore Enhanced Tumor Regression Using Dual Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Innovative Study 

Ann Moormann, PhD, MPH, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, has received a Pilot Project Program award from the UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) for her project, “Targeting Immune Checkpoint Tim-3 in a Preclinical EBV-Associated Burkitt Lymphoma Humanized Mouse Model.” 

PD-1 blockade has shown promise as a therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. However, its outcomes have not fully met expectations, potentially due to the interference of Tim-3, another way by which tumors avoid detection by cytotoxic immune cells. To address this challenge, Dr. Moormann, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Brehm of the Program in Molecular Medicine, has initiated a groundbreaking preclinical study to explore whether combining PD-1 and Tim-3 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can enhance tumor regression rates for Burkitt lymphoma (BL). Using a humanized mouse model, Dr. Viriato M’Bana, a postdoctoral fellow at UMass Chan, aims to evaluate the efficacy of this dual therapy compared to standard monotherapies and the widely used drug rituximab, that can target B cells. 

“We hypothesize that Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) which can persist in B cell tumors also plays a critical role in shaping the tumor microenvironment,” said Dr. Moormann. The research team plans to assess the effectiveness of simultaneous PD-1 and Tim-3 blockade in EBV-positive and EBV-negative BL tumors, as well as in rituximab-sensitive and rituximab-resistant BL cell-line-derived xenografts. “By addressing these key factors, we seek to unravel the complex interactions between ICIs, EBV, and the human immune system, paving the way for more effective cancer treatments for patients diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma.” 

Congratulations to Dr. Moormann and her team!