UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center

Immunotherapy treatments like CAR T-cell therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies have become a cornerstone of cancer care since the first immunotherapy medication received FDA approval in 1997.

Every cancer diagnosis is different, and many solid tumors including lung, bladder, breast, cervical cancer, and melanoma, can respond well to treatment. However, not every cancer type responds to immunotherapy; some, like pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and glioblastoma, can manipulate a tumor’s surrounding immune environment, making immunotherapy treatments ineffective.

Researchers at UVACCC and beyond are searching for ways to overcome cancer’s defenses so that immunotherapy treatments can continue to transform cancer care and patient outcomes.

Learn more about immunotherapy research at UVACCC: https://med.virginia.edu/cancer-research/research-initiatives/research-programs/

Leigh Cantrell, MD, MSPH, Associate Director for Clinical Affairs and Physician Lead of cancer care at UVA Health, shares how philanthropic generosity supports research, patient care, and the Cancer Center’s broader mission to reduce the burden of cancer for the patients of today and eliminate the threat of cancer for the patients of tomorrow.

Read more about philanthropy at UVACCC: https://giving.uvahealth.com/media/issues/investing-hope-summer-2026