November 3, 2026
We are proud to showcase the involvement of our UPMC Hillman Cancer Center researchers at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2026 Annual Meeting. From presentations and posters on cutting-edge scientific findings on immune monitoring, cellular therapies, spatial biology and clinical trials in progress to sessions on career development, UPMC Hillman researchers are leaders in immunotherapy research.
Explore our presentations, connect with us, and discover how UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is advancing cancer immunotherapy through innovative discoveries and collaborative research.
(All times in Mountain Time)
Thursday, November 5
Pre-Conference Program
Bioinformatics, Big Data and AI (Table 1)
Sheraton – 2nd level – Encanto AB
12:00 - 1:30 PM - Riyue Bao, PhD
Big data and AI are reshaping scientific research, healthcare, and medicine. Meet faculty who use bioinformatics-, big date- and AI-based tools in the field of immune-oncology and discuss strategies, challenges and opportunities associated with these approaches.
Grant Writing Workshop
Sheraton – 2nd level – Encanto AB
2:30 - 5:05 PM – Abby Overacre, PhD (organizer)
Grant Writing Essentials overview of NIH grants, grant writing strategies, effective grant proposal writing, using AI for grant writing., etc. This will be followed by breakout sessions on various types of grants.
3:15 – 3:25 PM – Greg Delgoffe, PhD
Funding Your Research Through Industry Collaborations
4:30-5:00 PM - Abby Overacre, PhD
Breakout: Low-preliminary Data Grants (DP5, R21, High Risk/High Reward Grants)
Friday, November 6
Morning Sessions
Session 101: Awards Ceremony
8:05-8:35 AM
Phoenix Conv Ctr – North Building – 300 Level – Halls BC
Posters
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Phoenix Convention Center – North Building -Lower Level – Exhibition Halls 4-6
Lazar Vujanovic
Abstract #95
Chemoradiation and anti-PD-1 therapy combination shapes myeloid cell dynamics in HNSCC patients
Category: Biomarkers, Immune Monitoring and Novel Technologies
Nosakhare Ilerhunmwuwa
Abstract #111
Association of Opioid Pathway Genes with Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Advanced Cutaneous Melanoma
Category: Biomarkers, Immune Monitoring and Novel Technologies
Vera Donnenberg
Abstract #261
Inference of TCR antigen specificity from CDR3 sequences in a breast cancer malignant pleural effusion: A case study
Category: Cellular Therapies
Diwakar Davar
Abstract #275
Top 150 🎗
Event-driven management, risk factors, and clinical associations of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) following anzutresgene autoleucel (anzu-cel), a TCR T-cell therapy, in advanced melanoma
Category: Cellular Therapies
Nicole Mihalik
Abstract #291
Assessing the impacts of PD1 and LAG3 on adoptive CD4 T cell therapy in cancer
Category: Cellular Therapies
Erica Braverman
Abstract #417
Genetically distinct murine rhabdomyosarcomas create unique immune microenvironments with differing sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade
Category: Checkpoint Blockade Therapy
Diwakar Davar
Abstract #567
Adaptive phase 2/3 study of EIK1001, a TLR7/8 dual agonist, in combination with pembrolizumab, as first-line therapy in participants with advanced melanoma (TeLuRide-006)
Category: Clinical Trials In Progress
Nosakhar Ilerhunmwuwa
Abstract #569
Phase Ib/II Study of Axelopran in Combination with Nivolumab in Patients with Anti–PD-1–Refractory Unresectable or Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma
Category: Clinical Trials In Progress
Charlotte Imianowski
Abstract #723
Defining the role of PD-1 and LAG3 on Treg cell function in tumors
Category: Immune Cell Types and Biology
Qiang Chen
Abstract #773
Identification of novel therapeutic targets on tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells using an in vivo CRISPR screening system
Category: Immune Cell Types and Biology
Yangxi Sun - Early Career Investigator Abstract Travel Award
Abstract #793
Top 150 🎗
PD1 expression in LAG3+ exhausted T cells restrains memory recall responses through a mechanism involving TCR repertoire diversity and non CD8+ T cell populations
Category: Immune Cell Types and Biology
Afternoon Sessions
Session 106d: Mechanisms of irAEs
Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have emerged as one of the major challenges of cancer immunotherapy, yet the biological mechanisms underlying their development remain incompletely understood.
1:45 - 3:25 PM - Abby Overacre, PhD
1:50 - 2:10 PM - Diet and Microbiome Drivers of Immune Related Adverse Events
Session 107b: Biotech Session: The Next Generation of Off-the-Shelf IO
3:55 - 5:30 PM – Yana Najjar, MD
4:50 - 5:00 PM – STEALTH-001: A Phase 1 Study of VET3-TGI, an Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Encoding TGFb inhibitor and IL-12 for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors
Saturday, November 7
Morning Sessions
Session 202: Spatial Biology
9:35 - 11:15 AM
Phoenix CC – North Building – 300 Level – Halls BC
Tullia Bruno, PhD – Co Chair
Session 203: Hot Topic Symposium: External Factors Contributing to Immunotherapy Response
11:15 - 12:15 PM
Phoenix CC – North Building – 300 Level – Halls BC
Greg Delgoffe, PhD – co-chair
11:15 - 11:30 AM – Post Prandial Metabolism and its Potential to Enhance Immunotherapy Responses
Posters
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Phoenix Convention Center – North Building -Lower Level – Exhibition Halls 4-6
Sydney Jackson
Abstract #68
Translational PET Imaging of Suppressive Granulocytic Myeloid Cells in Glioblastoma
Category: Biomarkers, Immune Monitoring and Novel Technologies
Jessy John
Abstract #134
Surgical Drain Fluid as a Tumor-Proximal Window into Postoperative Immune Remodeling and Recurrence Risk in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Category: Biomarkers, Immune Monitoring and Novel Technologies
Michelle Roe
Abstract #220
Overcoming antigen heterogeneity in Ewing sarcoma using adaptable multi-targeted SNAP-CAR T cells
Category: Cellular Therapies
Jing Wang
Abstract #450
Clonal adaptivity and functional fitness of putative tumor-reactive super-expanders dictate major pathological response to dual immune checkpoint inhibition in HNSCC
Category: Checkpoint Blockade Therapy
Dan Zandberg
Abstract #484
Phase II neoadjuvant study of nivolumab alone and in combination with relatlimab or ipilimumab in resectable head and neck cancer
Category: Clinical Trials Completed
Yana Najjar – ORAL
Abstract #572
Top 150 🎗
STEALTH-001: A Phase 1 Study of VET3-TGI, an Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Encoding TGFb Inhibitor and IL-12, for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors
Category: Clinical Trials In Progress
Daniela Romero
Abstract #592
Patient-Derived 3D Malignant Pleural Effusion Spheroids Reveal Activatable Antitumor Immunity and Immune-Cell Penetration
Category: Combination Immunotherapies
Prosper Chukwuemeka
Abstract #672
FOSL2-dependent intratumoral regulatory T cell program defines non-response to dual PD-1/LAG-3 checkpoint blockade across solid tumors
Category: Combination Immunotherapies
Yingtong Dou - Jeffrey S. Weber Abstract Travel Award
Abstract #698
Top 150 🎗
Interferon-γ-producing exhausted T cells are critical for host memory response to melanoma
Category: Immune Cell Types and Biology
Mary Melissa Roland
Abstract #708
Tumor-antigen-specific CD4+ T cells drive TLS formation and maturation in solid tumors
Category: Immune Cell Types and Biology
Samuel Butler
Abstract #772
TOX maintains T cell exhaustion and hinders the development of tumor-specific CD8+ T cell memory
Category: Immune Cell Types and Biology
Sadhana Bom
Abstract #816
Sweet boost: sucralose enhances regulatory T cell (Treg) function in vitro
Category: Immune-Stimulants and Immune Modulators
Yue Wang
Abstract #838
ETV6 Rearrangements Impair T Cell Infiltration via Activating β-Catenin Signaling in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Category: Immune-Stimulants and Immune Modulators
Zakaria Dahmani
Abstract #1012
Rational Design of Selective IL-2-based Activators for CAR T Cells Using AlphaFold3 and Physics-Informed Machine Learning
Category: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Computational Modeling
Kelsey Ertwine
Abstract #1036
Microbiota-induced RORγt+ regulatory T cells underlie sex differences in tumor control
Category: Microbiome and Other Host Factors
Alexandra Glathar
Abstract #1130
Identification of a spatially resolved cellular neighborhood in HNSCC that limits response to immunotherapy
Category: Tumor and Stromal Cell Biology
Alexis Hill
Abstract #1134
Targeting HO-1⁺ Macrophages to Remodel the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Breast Cancer Liver Metastasis
Category: Tumor and Stromal Cell Biology
Michelle Williams
Abstract #1160
Exposing Targetable Mediators of Immune Suppression in Breast Cancer Liver Metastasis
Category: Tumor and Stromal Cell Biology
Robert Edwards, MD
Abstract #1174/ Late Breaking
Peripheral immune correlates of denileukin diftitox-cxdl plus pembrolizumab in heavily pretreated recurrent or advanced gynecologic malignancies
Category: Clinical Trial in Progress
Afternoon Sessions
Session 206c: Microbiome and Metabolism
Phoenix CCV – West Building – 300 Level – 301A
3:30 - 4:50 PM
Marlies Meisel, PhD – co-chair
4:25 - 4:35 PM – Gut Microbiome Function Shapes the Efficacy of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy in Melanoma
Sunday, November 8
Sessions
Session 301: Presidential Session
8:15 - 9:40 AM
Phoenix CC – North Building – 300 Level – Hall A
9:30 – 9:40 AM – Greg Delgoffe, PhD – Expert Discussant
