{"id":5599,"date":"2022-05-19T16:16:46","date_gmt":"2022-05-19T14:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leo-foundation.org\/en\/?p=5599"},"modified":"2022-05-19T21:15:08","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T19:15:08","slug":"what-if-our-own-immune-system-holds-the-secret-to-preventing-skin-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leo-foundation.org\/en\/2022\/05\/19\/what-if-our-own-immune-system-holds-the-secret-to-preventing-skin-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"What if our immune system holds the secret to preventing skin cancer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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19 May 2022<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year’s winner of the LEO Foundation Award in Region Americas sheds light on how patients\u2019 immune system can be leveraged to prevent skin cancer. <\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For his more than noteworthy contributions to the dermatology field, his truly exciting trajectory within skin research as well as his clinical skills, Dr. Shadmehr (Shawn) Demehri from Massachusetts General Hospital receives the LEO Foundation Award 2022 in Region Americas \u2013 worth USD 100,000. Dr. Demehri is a brilliant and exceptionally talented physician-scientist who leads a creative and accomplished research team studying the intersection between the immune system and early cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the LEO Foundation, we are absolutely delighted to present this year\u2019s award in Region Americas to Dr. Demehri. A stellar young investigator with an exemplary scientific track record and a unique ability to skillfully translate fundamental and rigorous findings into clinical therapies for patients,\u201d says Peter Haahr, CEO, the LEO Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the body\u2019s immune system to fight early-stage cancer<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Demehri is a cancer immunologist, dermatologist and principal investigator and holds the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, USA, the MGH Cancer Center and at the Center for Cancer Immunology at MGH\/Harvard Medical School.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Demehri studies cancer immunotherapy \u2013 or immunoprevention – a strategy changing the direction of cancer care, focusing on understanding the role of the immune system in regulating the early stages of cancer development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While immunotherapy has proven effective against several types of late-stage cancers, there have so far been few efforts to use immunotherapy against early-stage cancers. To that end, Dr. Demehri investigates the immune pathways that can prevent cancer formation in the skin and other organs and block initiating cancer from advancing into invasive disease.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My laboratory studies epithelial cancers, which are the most common cancer types. Our aim is to establish effective strategies for cancer prevention using the patient\u2019s own immune system akin to vaccination against infectious diseases \u2013 potentially making a future where patients\u2019 immune system can be leveraged to prevent cancer development and recurrence,” explains Dr. Shawn Demehri. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, Dr. Demehri\u2019s research contributions have helped establish the foundation for cancer immunoprevention in the skin and other organs, which is expected to benefit many patients at high risk of cancer development and recurrence.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novel mechanisms that suppress<\/strong> cancer in the skin and other organs<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Dr. Demehri\u2019s most significant discoveries has been the determination of how an epithelium-derived cytokine \u2013 a small, secreted protein crucial in regulating the immune system – protects the skin tissues from cancer. An immunotherapeutic agent that Dr. Demehri has developed based on this discovery is now being used by dermatologists around the world to treat actinic keratosis – the most common precancer that forms on skin damaged by chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis discovery, the first to show that a T cell-directed immunotherapy against a pre-malignant lesion can prevent cancer in humans, has created a bona fide paradigm for cancer prevention. My laboratory is actively expanding this field with multiple lines of discoveries in several cancers,\u201d says Dr. Shawn Demehri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dedicated to making a difference <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you browse through Dr. Demehri\u2019s impressive CV, one thing that stands out is his continuous work and close dialogue with patients. And when asked what has shaped and inspired his career in science so far, Dr. Demehri highlights his dedication and passion for making a difference for the patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The most important aspect of my career that has immensely contributed to the direction of my research has been the interactions with my patients. As a cutaneous oncologist who takes care of patients at high risk of developing deadly skin cancers, I have learned a lot about the core issues and questions related to living with cancer and enduring the morbidity and mortality associated with it. This experience has fueled my fundamental passion to make cancer prevention a reality for many patients at high risk for cancer development and recurrence,” says Dr. Demehri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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