The main focus of our group is to investigate the key factors impacting the immunogenicity of radiotherapy in brain malignancies. Specifically, we study the metabolic vulnerabilities of aggressive brain tumors, including glioblastoma and pediatric brain cancers. Our research explores how these tumors adapt to metabolic stress and radiation therapy to evade anti-tumor immunity, with a particular emphasis on lipid metabolism. By integrating cancer biology, radiation science, and preclinical modeling, we aim to uncover novel therapeutic targets and translate our findings into more effective, personalized treatment strategies for both adult and pediatric patients.
Members:
Claire Vanpouille-Box, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Vanpouille-Box received her PhD from the University of Angers in France, where she first became interested in radiation-induced anti-tumor immunity. Her graduate work explored the use of nanoparticles to generate localized radiation within tumors—a novel therapeutic concept that sparked her long-standing interest in the immunological consequences of radiation therapy.
Following her graduate training, she completed postdoctoral research at the NYU School of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine. Her work there contributed to major advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which radiation therapy can stimulate systemic anti-tumor immune responses. Notably, she demonstrated that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a master suppressor of radiation-induced immune responses, and that cancer cell-intrinsic type I interferon signaling is critical for achieving the abscopal effect—where localized radiotherapy leads to regression of distant, untreated tumors. These findings have had a significant impact on the field and helped lay the groundwork for combining radiotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Currently, Dr. Vanpouille-Box’s lab integrates preclinical models, radiation biology, cancer immunology, and metabolism to uncover novel therapeutic targets, with a growing focus on metabolic reprogramming—particularly lipid metabolism—as a mechanism of resistance to radiation and immune therapies in brain tumors.
She has received multiple honors for her contributions to cancer research, including the prestigious Marie Curie Award from the Radiation Research Society (2014), the AACR–Susan G. Komen Scholar-in-Training Award (2015), and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Scholar Award (2022).
In recognition of her expertise in the field, she serves as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal) and Radiation Research, and as Section Editor for "Immune Radiobiology" in the Journal of Translational Medicine.
Mara De Martino, PhD
Research Associate
Mara obtained her PhD degree in tumor immunology at Buenos Aires University, Argentina. Her research interests are largely direct towards understanding how tumors interact with the immune system in order to develop effective immunotherapies against cancer. Mara joined the laboratory of Dr. Vanpouille-Box as a Postdoctoral Associate in August, 2019. Her current research interest is focused on the impact of radiotherapy in the tumor microenvironment and the immunogenicity of glioblastoma. During her free time, Mara enjoys hanging out with friends and family.
Maria Cecilia Lira
Postdoctoral Associate
Cecilia obtained her PhD degree in biological sciences at Buenos Aires University, Argentina. She joined the laboratory of Dr. Vanpouille-Box as a Postdoctoral Associate in August 2023. During her PhD, Cecilia studied the crosstalk between breast cancer adipocytes and developed a keen interest in how lipids impact tumor cells and their stroma. She is currently focused on the link between lipid metabolism induced by radiation therapy and anti-tumor immunity in glioblastoma. Outside the lab, Cecilia enjoys leisure activities such as dancing and sports, and spends time with her family and friends.
Former Members
Recent Publications
- De Martino M, Rathmell JC, Galluzzi L and Vanpouille-Box C. Cancer cell metabolism and antitumour immunity. Nat Rev Immunol. 2024; Sep; 24(9):654-669. Doi: 10.1038/s41577-024-01026-4. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38649722/)
- Padilla O, Minns HE, Wei HJ, Fan W, Webster-Carrion A, Tazhibi M, McQuillan NM, Gallitto M, Yeh R, Zhang Z, Hei TK, Szalontay L, Pavisic J, Tan Y, Deoli N, Garty G, Garvin JH, Canoll P, Vanpouille-Box C, Menon V, Olah M, Rabadan R, Wu CC and Gartrell RD. Immune response following FLASH and conventional radiation in diffuse midline glioma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol. 2024; Jul 15; 119(4):1248-1260. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.01.219. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38364947/)
- De Martino M, Daviaud C, Minns HE, Lazarian A, Wacker A, Costa AP, Attarwala N, Chen Q, Choi SW, Rabadan R, McIntire LBL, Gartrell RD, Kelly JM, Laiakis EC and Vanpouille-Box C. Radiation therapy promotes unsaturated fatty acids to maintain survival of glioblastoma. Cancer Letters. 2023 Jul 26; 570:216329. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37499741/
- Taffoni C, Marines J, Chamma H, Guha S, Saccas M, Bouzid A, Valadao AC, Maghe C, Jardine J, Park MK, Polak K, De Martino M, Vanpouille-Box C, Del Rio M, Gongora C, Gavard J, Bidère N, Song MS, Pineau D, Hugnot JP, Kissa K, Fontenille L, Blanchet FP, Vila IK, Laguette N. DNA damage repair kinase DNA-PK and cGAS synergize to induce cancer-related inflammation in glioblastoma. EMBO J. 2023 apr 3; 42(7):e111961. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36574362
- De Martino M, Padilla O, Daviaud C, Wu CC, Gartrell RD, Vanpouille-Box C. Exploiting radiation therapy to restore immune reactivity of glioblastoma. Front Oncol. 2021 May 20; 11:671044. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34094969/
- De Martino M, Daviaud C and Vanpouille-Box C. Radiotherapy: an immune response modifier for immuno-oncology. Semin Immunol. 2021 Feb; 52:101474. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33741223/
- De Martino M, Daviaud C, Diamond JM, Kraynak J, Alard A, Formenti SC, Miller LD, Demaria S, Vanpouille-Box C. Activin A Promotes Regulatory T-cell-Mediated Immunosuppression in Irradiated Breast Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res. 2021 Jan; 9(1):89-102. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33093219/
- Vanpouille-Box C, Hoffmann JA, Galluzzi L. Pharmacological modulation of nucleic acid sensors – therapeutic potential and persisting obstacles. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2019 Nov; 18(11):845-867.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31554927/
For a complete list, please visit here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/claire.vanpouille-box.1/bibliography/public/