Professor and Chair of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine
NextGen Focus Area: Cancer and Immunology
Bo Lu conducts National Cancer Institute-sponsored research that aims to understand how Th-17/B-cell-mediated autoimmune mechanisms contribute to the efficacy and toxicity of combined cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and immunotherapy. He is investigating immunogenic signaling pathways triggered by ionizing irradiation. The ultimate goal is to identify drug targets and biomarkers that will aid the development of blood tests and novel drugs to improve the efficacy and safety of cancer treatments.
Precision Health Impact:
- Personalized cancer treatments based on an individual’s tumor and host immune system to maximize efficacy and minimize side effects.
Publications:
- Yan B, Hooper DC, Yuan Z, Wang C, Chen Y, Lu B. Autoantibodies Drive Heart Damage Caused by Concomitant Radiation and PD-1 Blockade. Cancer Immunol Res. 2023 Apr 3;11(4):546–55.
- Du S, McCall N, Park K, Guan Q, Fontina P, Ertel A, et al. Blockade of Tumor-Expressed PD-1 promotes lung cancer growth. Oncoimmunology. 2018;7(4):e1408747.
- Irabor OC, Nelson N, Shah Y, Niazi MK, Poiset S, Storozynsky E, et al. Overcoming the cardiac toxicities of cancer therapy immune checkpoint inhibitors. Front Oncol. 2022;12:940127.
- Tao Z, McCall NS, Wiedemann N, Vuagniaux G, Yuan Z, Lu B. SMAC Mimetic Debio 1143 and Ablative Radiation Therapy Synergize to Enhance Antitumor Immunity against Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Feb 1;25(3):1113–24.
- Chen VE, Greenberger BA, Taylor JM, Edelman MJ, Lu B. The Underappreciated Role of the Humoral Immune System and B Cells in Tumorigenesis and Cancer Therapeutics: A Review. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2020 Sep 1;108(1):38–45.
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PubMed
Email: blb9z@missouri.edu
Department website: https://www.muhealth.org/doctors/bo-lu-md