Michael Hurwitz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology)DownloadHi-Res Photo
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About
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Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology)
Biography
Dr. Mike Hurwitz is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology). For over 20 years, he has specialized in treating patients with cancers of the genitourinary tract (kidney, bladder, prostate and testicular cancers) and, more recently, in using immune cell-based therapies to treat a large range of solid tumor cancers. His main research efforts are to expand the availability of trials of cell-based therapies to patients with solid tumors.
Appointments
Medical Oncology
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryUrology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2010)
- Fellow
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital (2004)
- Resident in Medicine
- The New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Campus (2000)
- MD
- Cornell University Medical College (1998)
- PhD
- Rockefeller University (1997)
- AB
- Harvard College, Biochemical Sciences (1991)
Research
Overview
My research interests are in the treatment of kidney cancer specifically and in the use of immune cells to treat all solid tumor cancers, treatments called immune cell therapies. Two common treatments are CAR-T cell therapy and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, both of which I study (as well as other types of cell products). At the Smilow Cancer Hospital I oversee all clinical trials using immune cells to treat patients with cancers of the solid organs. I also collaborate with laboratories to develop new treatments for solid organ cancers.
Medical Research Interests
Neoplastic Processes
Public Health Interests
Cancer; Immunology
ORCID
0000-0002-1326-7308
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Michael Hurwitz's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Michael Hurwitz's research output by year.
Harriet Kluger, MD
David A. Braun, MD, PhD
Michael S. Leapman, MD, MHS
Adebowale Adeniran, MD
David Schoenfeld, MD, PhD
Cary Gross, MD
54Publications
1,310Citations
Publications
2024
Decoy-resistant IL-18 reshapes the tumor microenvironment and enhances rejection by anti-CTLA-4 in renal cell carcinoma
Schoenfeld D, Djureinovic D, Su D, Zhang L, Lu B, Kamga L, Mann J, Huck J, Hurwitz M, Braun D, Jilaveanu L, Ring A, Kluger H. Decoy-resistant IL-18 reshapes the tumor microenvironment and enhances rejection by anti-CTLA-4 in renal cell carcinoma. JCI Insight 2024 PMID: 39561007, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.184545.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-CTLA-4Renal cell carcinomaIL-18IL-18BPCell carcinomaTumor microenvironmentTumor typesPatients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitorsRegulatory T cell levelsAnti-PD-1 treatmentCD8+ T cellsAnti-PD-1Immune checkpoint inhibitorsCell renal cell carcinomaNon-responder patientsMyeloid cell populationsT cell levelsCytokine interleukin-18Anti-cancer efficacySecreted binding proteinCheckpoint inhibitorsResponding patientsPreclinical modelsT cellsMurine modelSorafenib or anthracycline‐based chemotherapy for progressive desmoid tumors
Costa P, Arora A, Fernandez Y, Yi I, Bakkila B, Tan H, Coelho P, Campoverde L, Hardy N, Bialick S, Freire A, D’Amato G, Chang Y, Mesenger J, Subhawong T, Haims A, Hurwitz M, Olino K, Turaga K, Deshpande H, Trent J. Sorafenib or anthracycline‐based chemotherapy for progressive desmoid tumors. Cancer 2024 PMID: 39543805, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35647.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsProgression-free survivalAnthracycline-containing regimensAnthracycline-based therapyDesmoid tumorsAdverse eventsOne-year progression-free survivalMulti-institutional retrospective analysisAnthracycline-containing regimenCommon grade 1Desmoid tumor patientsGrade 3 eventsAnthracycline-based chemotherapyHand-foot syndromeSecondary end pointsActivity of sorafenibProgressive desmoid tumorsYear of treatmentMedian TTRBaseline characteristicsTumor patientsLocal invasionTreatment responseSorafenibAnthracyclinesEnd points662 A phase1 study of autologous engineered CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, HLA-A*11:01-restricted, KRAS G12V-specific, transgenic TCR; CD8α/β coreceptor and a FAS41BB switch receptor in patients with solid tumors
Mitchell S, Khan B, Payumo F, Gabriela Chiorean E, Gahvari Z, Randolph Hecht J, Hurwitz M, Leidner R, Lenz H, Pelster M, Schoenfeld A, Punekar S, Zhao D, Basu S, Nagorsen D. 662 A phase1 study of autologous engineered CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, HLA-A*11:01-restricted, KRAS G12V-specific, transgenic TCR; CD8α/β coreceptor and a FAS41BB switch receptor in patients with solid tumors. 2024, a759-a759. DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0662.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCost trends of metastatic renal cell carcinoma therapy: the impact of oral anticancer agents and immunotherapy
Forman R, Long J, Westvold S, Agnish K, McManus H, Leapman M, Hurwitz M, Spees L, Wheeler S, Gross C, Dinan M. Cost trends of metastatic renal cell carcinoma therapy: the impact of oral anticancer agents and immunotherapy. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 2024, 8: pkae067. PMID: 39133171, PMCID: PMC11376369, DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkae067.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsMetastatic renal cell carcinomaOral anticancer agentsOAA useAssociated with decreased adherenceRenal cell carcinomaAnticancer agentsDays of treatmentCombination therapyCell carcinomaStudy patientsInitial treatmentReal-world costsCombination groupImmunotherapyPatientsOOP costsTherapyTreatment typePercent daysPerspective of payersTreatmentClaims dataMedicare patientsAnalyzed differencesFee-for-service MedicareTIGIT expression in renal cell carcinoma infiltrating T cells is variable and inversely correlated with PD-1 and LAG3
Perales O, Jilaveanu L, Adeniran A, Su D, Hurwitz M, Braun D, Kluger H, Schoenfeld D. TIGIT expression in renal cell carcinoma infiltrating T cells is variable and inversely correlated with PD-1 and LAG3. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 2024, 73: 192. PMID: 39105820, PMCID: PMC11303630, DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03773-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRenal cell carcinomaRenal cell carcinoma tumorsT cellsTIGIT expressionCheckpoint inhibitorsPD-1Likelihood of response to therapyTumor-infiltrating T cellsCD3+ T cellsRenal cell carcinoma metastasisTreatment of renal cell carcinomaImmune checkpoint inhibitorsInfiltrating T cellsPurposeImmune checkpoint inhibitorsResponse to therapyT cell immunoglobulinCD3+ levelsMetastatic RCC specimensAdjacent normal renal tissuesNormal renal tissuesQuantitative immunofluorescence analysisCell carcinomaResistant diseasePotential therapeutic targetTissue microarray14 Natural killer cells have impaired cytotoxicity in advanced renal cell carcinoma
Moritz V, Xu W, Birch G, Meliki A, Bharadwaj M, Schindler N, Labaki C, Saliby R, Dinh K, Horst J, Sun M, Kashima S, Machaalani M, Lee G, Hurwitz M, McGregor B, Hirsch M, Shukla S, McDermott D, Signoretti S, Romee R, Choueiri T, Braun D. 14 Natural killer cells have impaired cytotoxicity in advanced renal cell carcinoma. The Oncologist 2024, 29: s7-s8. PMCID: PMC11301877, DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae181.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNK cell phenotypeGene expression signaturesNK cell populationK562 target cellsNK cellsRenal cell carcinomaAdvanced ccRCCNK cell clustersLocalized ccRCCAnti-tumor activityNormal kidneyNatural killerCell carcinomaMarkers of tissue residencyAdvanced renal cell carcinomaProportion of NK cellsFunction of NK cellsExpression of cytotoxic genesTarget cellsNK cell dysfunctionTotal immune cellsNK cell subsetsCell phenotypeCell populationsCell renal cell carcinomaDevelopment of anex vivo patient-derived tumor model (PDTM) to assess the tumor microenvironment in renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
Kashima S, Gupta R, Moritz V, Sadak K, Adeniran A, Humphrey P, Dinulescu D, Palmer D, Hammond S, Bosenberg M, Hurwitz M, Kenney P, Braun D. Development of anex vivo patient-derived tumor model (PDTM) to assess the tumor microenvironment in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The Oncologist 2024, 29: s5-s6. PMCID: PMC11301923, DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae181.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRCC tumor microenvironmentPatient-derived tumor modelsRenal cell carcinomaImmune checkpoint inhibitorsT cell functionPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayTumor microenvironmentT cellsFlow cytometryTumor fragmentsIFN-gTumor modelTumor samplesCytokine productionHealthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cellsImpact of immune checkpoint inhibitorsAnti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodyDonor peripheral blood mononuclear cellsCD4+CD25+ regulatory T cellsCD8+ T cell populationsResection of renal cell carcinomaSurgical resection of renal cell carcinomaAnti-PD-1 antibodyMetastatic renal cell carcinomaAFNT-211: A phase 1 study of autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T cells engineered to express a high avidity HLA-A*11:01-restricted, KRAS G12V-specific, transgenic TCR, a CD8α/β coreceptor, and a FAS41BB switch receptor in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors.
Mitchell S, Khan B, Payumo F, Chiorean E, Gahvari Z, Hecht J, Hurwitz M, Leidner R, Lenz H, Pelster M, Punekar S, Schoenfeld A, Zhao D, Vallaster M, Nagorsen D. AFNT-211: A phase 1 study of autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T cells engineered to express a high avidity HLA-A*11:01-restricted, KRAS G12V-specific, transgenic TCR, a CD8α/β coreceptor, and a FAS41BB switch receptor in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: tps8650-tps8650. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.tps8650.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsOptimal biological doseCD8+ T cellsAutologous CD4+Advanced/metastatic solid tumorsT cellsSolid tumorsSwitch receptorsDose expansionDose escalationCD4+Transgenic TCRMechanism of actionDose-limiting toxicity observation periodRecommended phase 2 doseT cell cytotoxic activityIncreased T cell activationCD4+ T cellsHelper T cell responsesPreventing T cell exhaustionPost-treatment follow-up periodChimeric switch receptorsPhase 2 doseImmunosuppressive tumor microenvironmentT cell exhaustionDuration of responseMolecular analysis of the HCRN GU16-260-Cohort A phase II study of first-line (1L) nivolumab (nivo) and salvage nivo + ipilimumab (ipi) in patients (pts) with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (accRCC).
Zaemes J, Hugaboom M, Shah V, Haas N, McDermott D, Jegede O, Bilen M, Stein M, Sosman J, Alter R, Plimack E, Hurwitz M, Wu C, Einstein D, Hammers H, Signoretti S, West D, Denize T, Atkins M, Braun D. Molecular analysis of the HCRN GU16-260-Cohort A phase II study of first-line (1L) nivolumab (nivo) and salvage nivo + ipilimumab (ipi) in patients (pts) with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (accRCC). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: 4546-4546. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.4546.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsObjective response rateImmune checkpoint blockadeProgression-free survivalProgressive diseaseAnti-VEGFOverall survivalAssociated with higher progression-free survivalTumor samplesAdvanced clear cell renal cell carcinomaCombined immune checkpoint blockadeHigher progression-free survivalIncreased PFSImmune checkpoint blockade therapyShorter progression-free survivalClear cell renal cell carcinomaAnti-VEGF therapyCell renal cell carcinomaWeeks of therapyRenal cell carcinomaBiomarkers of efficacyFFPE tumor samplesNIVO monotherapyCheckpoint blockadeDecreased OSProspective trialsInitial data from a phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial for T-Plex, a multiplexed, enhanced T cell receptor-engineered T cell therapy (TCR-T) for solid tumors.
Thomas S, Pico B, Henick B, Leidner R, Samhouri Y, Isaacs J, Weiss J, Hurwitz M, Grewal J, Luke J, Chattopadhyay S, Wang Y, Motta M, Murray J, Barton D, Pinchasik D, MacBeath G, Moser J. Initial data from a phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial for T-Plex, a multiplexed, enhanced T cell receptor-engineered T cell therapy (TCR-T) for solid tumors. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: 2542-2542. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.2542.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsT-cell receptor-engineered T-cell therapyLoss of heterozygositySolid tumorsHLA-A*02:01HLA matchingHLA allelesPatients evaluated to dateFirst-in-human clinical trialDose level 1Dose level 3Pre-identify patientsTarget HLA alleleAntitumor T cellsT-cell therapyLoss of heterozygosity testingT-cell attackMaster protocolProportion of patientsScreening protocolCombination of HLAHLA LOHHLA lossImmunosuppressive microenvironmentMAGE-A1HLA typing
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Melanoma Margins Trial-II - A Phase III, Multi-centre Randomised Controlled Trial Investigating 1cm v 2cm Wide Surgical Excision Margins for AJCC Stage II Primary Cutaneous Melanoma (02.18 MelMarT-II)
HIC ID2000033087RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2029Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 1/2 Study of REGN5678 (Anti-PSMAxCD28) With Cemiplimab (Anti-PD-1) in Patients With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
HIC ID2000029991RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/13/2024Recruiting ParticipantsPhase II Trial Of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Oligoprogression on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
HIC ID2000027702RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/01/2025Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 1a Open-Label, Dose-Escalation, and a Phase 2 Study to Investigate the Safety, PK, PD, and Clinical Activity of ST-067 Administered Subcutaneously as Monotherapy in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors
HIC ID2000030299RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2024Recruiting ParticipantsSIMCAP (Surgery in Metastatic Carcinoma of Prostate): Phase 2.5 Multi-Institution Randomized Prospective Clinical Trial Evaluating the Impact of Cytoreductive Radical Prostatectomy Combined With Best Systemic Therapy on Oncologic and Quality of Life Outcomes in Men With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Prostate Cancer
HIC ID2000031290RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsGenderMaleAge18+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor Medical Oncology Teaching Award
Yale School of Medicine AwardYale Cancer CenterDetails01/09/2024United Stateshonor Medical Oncology Teaching Award
Yale School of Medicine AwardYale Medical Oncology and Hematology Fellowship ProgramDetails06/06/2023, 08/17/2015United States
Clinical Care
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Medical Oncology
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News
- July 30, 2024
Smilow Cancer Hospital Cellular Therapies Program
- May 06, 2024
Yale Cancer Center to Offer a New Cellular Therapy for an Aggressive Skin Cancer
- April 03, 2024
Smilow Shares with Primary Care: Bladder Cancer
- April 01, 2024
YCC, Smilow Awardees Honored
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Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.