In a collaboration with Dr. Brian Gastman's group, we investigated the transcriptional profile of terminally exhausted, tumor infiltrating T-cells from melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma patients. We discovered bile acid and peroxisome pathways and mTOR signaling are dysregulated in exhausted T-cells with high expression of immune checkpoint receptors. These pathways represent new immunotherapy targets that may help rescue the immune response to tumors.
