Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of PathologyCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Biography
I trained as cell biologist, surgical pathologist and served in clinical molecular diagnostics. In addition, during my postdoctoral work at Yale I focused in developing strategies to objectively and quantitatively measure key immunotherapy related biomarkers in immune cells and cancer tissues. Most of this work has been performed in close collaboration with other Yale researchers and published in peer-reviewed journals. Recently, I was appointed to lead the Translational Immuno-Oncology Laboratory (T.I.L.) in the Yale Cancer Center, that aims to produce and support high quality translational research in immuno-oncology through standardized analyses of biomarkers and cross-integration with other Yale resources.
Appointments
Pathology
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryMedical Oncology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Immunology
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Pathology
- Pathology and Molecular Medicine
- Pathology Research
- Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB)
- Schalper Lab
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale-UPR Integrated HIV Basic and Clinical Sciences Initiative
Education & Training
- PhD
- Universidad Catolica de Chile (2008)
- MD
- San Sebastian University (2003)
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- View Lab Website
Schalper Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
David Rimm, MD, PhD
Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD
Scott Gettinger, MD
Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Harriet Kluger, MD
Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil
Breast Neoplasms
Publications
2024
CTLA4 blockade abrogates KEAP1/STK11-related resistance to PD-(L)1 inhibitors
Skoulidis F, Araujo H, Do M, Qian Y, Sun X, Cobo A, Le J, Montesion M, Palmer R, Jahchan N, Juan J, Min C, Yu Y, Pan X, Arbour K, Vokes N, Schmidt S, Molkentine D, Owen D, Memmott R, Patil P, Marmarelis M, Awad M, Murray J, Hellyer J, Gainor J, Dimou A, Bestvina C, Shu C, Riess J, Blakely C, Pecot C, Mezquita L, Tabbó F, Scheffler M, Digumarthy S, Mooradian M, Sacher A, Lau S, Saltos A, Rotow J, Johnson R, Liu C, Stewart T, Goldberg S, Killam J, Walther Z, Schalper K, Davies K, Woodcock M, Anagnostou V, Marrone K, Forde P, Ricciuti B, Venkatraman D, Van Allen E, Cummings A, Goldman J, Shaish H, Kier M, Katz S, Aggarwal C, Ni Y, Azok J, Segal J, Ritterhouse L, Neal J, Lacroix L, Elamin Y, Negrao M, Le X, Lam V, Lewis W, Kemp H, Carter B, Roth J, Swisher S, Lee R, Zhou T, Poteete A, Kong Y, Takehara T, Paula A, Parra Cuentas E, Behrens C, Wistuba I, Zhang J, Blumenschein G, Gay C, Byers L, Gibbons D, Tsao A, Lee J, Bivona T, Camidge D, Gray J, Lieghl N, Levy B, Brahmer J, Garassino M, Gandara D, Garon E, Rizvi N, Scagliotti G, Wolf J, Planchard D, Besse B, Herbst R, Wakelee H, Pennell N, Shaw A, Jänne P, Carbone D, Hellmann M, Rudin C, Albacker L, Mann H, Zhu Z, Lai Z, Stewart R, Peters S, Johnson M, Wong K, Huang A, Winslow M, Rosen M, Winters I, Papadimitrakopoulou V, Cascone T, Jewsbury P, Heymach J. CTLA4 blockade abrogates KEAP1/STK11-related resistance to PD-(L)1 inhibitors. Nature 2024, 1-10. PMID: 39385035, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07943-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsNon-small-cell lung cancerImmune checkpoint blockadeTumor suppressor genePD-L1Advanced non-small-cell lung cancerCD8+ cytotoxic T cellsSuppressor geneCD4+ effector cellsDual immune checkpoint blockadeMouse modelPD-L1 inhibitor durvalumabSuppressive myeloid cellsPD-L1 inhibitorsImmune-related toxicitiesPD-(L)1 inhibitorsAnti-tumor efficacyCytotoxic T cellsMyeloid cell compartmentAdverse tumor microenvironmentAssociated with higher ratesAnti-tumor activityLoss of Keap1CTLA4 inhibitorsSTK11 alterationsCheckpoint blockadeEP.07C.10 Real-World Outcomes of Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Ermer T, Kim S, Goldberg S, Zolfaghari E, Blasberg J, Boffa D, Herbst R, Politi K, Schalper K, Dacic S, Woodard G. EP.07C.10 Real-World Outcomes of Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2024, 19: s543-s544. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2024.09.1007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchP3.13D.07 Longitudinal Tumor Microenvironment Analysis in Extensive Stage SCLC Patients Treated with Dual Checkpoint Inhibitor Blockade
Chiang A, Matera R, Ashley K, Rajendran B, Schalper K. P3.13D.07 Longitudinal Tumor Microenvironment Analysis in Extensive Stage SCLC Patients Treated with Dual Checkpoint Inhibitor Blockade. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2024, 19: s362. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2024.09.652.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBCAM (basal cell adhesion molecule) protein expression in different tumor populations
Burela S, He M, Trontzas I, Gavrielatou N, Schalper K, Langermann S, Flies D, Rimm D, Aung T. BCAM (basal cell adhesion molecule) protein expression in different tumor populations. Discover Oncology 2024, 15: 381. PMID: 39207605, PMCID: PMC11362396, DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01244-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionBasal cell adhesion moleculePD-L1Quantitative immunofluorescenceAssociated with better OSPD-L1 protein expressionCancer typesBladder urothelial tumorsProtein expressionMultiple immune checkpointsHead and neckMultiple tumor typesEvidence of hypermethylationImmune checkpointsImmunotherapy responseCell adhesion moleculesTumor typesValidation cohortTumor populationCancer patientsTumorPredictive valueAdhesion moleculesNovel biomarkersWidespread expressionBiomarker development for PD-(L)1 axis inhibition: a consensus view from the SITC Biomarkers Committee
Monette A, Warren S, Barrett J, Garnett-Benson C, Schalper K, Taube J, Topp B, Snyder A. Biomarker development for PD-(L)1 axis inhibition: a consensus view from the SITC Biomarkers Committee. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2024, 12: e009427. PMID: 39032943, PMCID: PMC11261685, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009427.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsProgrammed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1PD-(L)1Biomarker developmentApplication of novel biomarkersPD-(L)1 therapyDeath-ligand 1Patient selection strategiesCombination therapyTumor typesTreatment optionsImmune biologyAxis inhibitionEffective treatmentCancer progressionNovel biomarkersPatientsTherapyImmunotherapyBiomarkersKnowledge of mechanismsDelivery of effective treatmentTreatmentAgentsTumorProgressionImmune Cell Dynamics in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Treated With Afatinib and Pembrolizumab: Results From a Phase IB Study
Riess J, Lara M, de Rodas M, Luxardi G, Herbert S, Shimoda M, Kelly K, Meerlev A, Moore E, Beckett L, Monjazeb A, Schalper K, Maverakis E, Gandara D. Immune Cell Dynamics in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Treated With Afatinib and Pembrolizumab: Results From a Phase IB Study. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2024, 5: 100706. PMID: 39318388, PMCID: PMC11420451, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2024.100706.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsImmune related adverse eventsNon-small cell lung cancerEGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancerMaximum tolerated doseEpidermal growth factor receptorImmune cell subsetsT cellsEGFR-TKIsCell subsetsPD-1 antibody pembrolizumabRecommended phase 2 doseCentral memory T cellsAssociated with anti-tumor activityCD8+ T cellsCD3+ T cellsEGFR-TKI afatinibPD-(L)1 blockadePhase 2 doseTreated with afatinibPhase Ib studyMemory T cellsImmune cell dynamicsControlling brain metastasesCell lung cancerCD4/CD8 T cellsQuantitative Measurement of HER2 Expression in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With a High-Sensitivity Assay
Liu M, Vathiotis I, Robbins C, Chan N, Moutafi M, Burela S, Xirou V, Schalper K, Herbst R, Syrigos K, Rimm D. Quantitative Measurement of HER2 Expression in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With a High-Sensitivity Assay. Modern Pathology 2024, 37: 100556. PMID: 38964502, PMCID: PMC11416319, DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2024.100556.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerCases of non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancer casesT-DXdCell lung cancerHER2 expressionBreast cancerRare case of non-small cell lung cancerQuantitative immunofluorescenceAntibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecanLung cancerHER2 antibody-drug conjugatesNon-small cell lung cancer patientsDetecting HER2 expressionHER2-targeted therapyMetastatic breast cancerHER2 protein expressionBreast cancer casesHER2 protein levelsAntibody-drug conjugatesProportion of casesTrastuzumab deruxtecanNSCLC casesFrequency of casesImmunohistochemistry scoreHigh-throughput transcriptome profiling indicates ribosomal RNAs to be associated with resistance to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Moutafi M, Bates K, Aung T, Milian R, Xirou V, Vathiotis I, Gavrielatou N, Angelakis A, Schalper K, Salichos L, Rimm D. High-throughput transcriptome profiling indicates ribosomal RNAs to be associated with resistance to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2024, 12: e009039. PMID: 38857914, PMCID: PMC11168162, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerImmune checkpoint inhibitorsProgrammed cell death protein 1Associated with OSCell lung cancerTissue microarray spotsTissue microarrayValidation cohortLung cancerNon-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitorsAssociated with resistance to immunotherapyCell death protein 1Resistance to immunotherapyAssociated with PFSProgression-free survivalSecreted frizzled-related protein 2Cox proportional-hazards model analysisCheckpoint inhibitorsImmunotherapy strategiesTumor compartmentsRetrospective cohortDiscovery cohortLong-term benefitsPatientsCD68Spatially resolved tissue imaging to analyze the tumor immune microenvironment: beyond cell-type densities
Janeiro A, Wong E, Jiménez-Sánchez D, de Solorzano C, Lozano M, Teijeira A, Schalper K, Melero I, De Andrea C. Spatially resolved tissue imaging to analyze the tumor immune microenvironment: beyond cell-type densities. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2024, 12: e008589. PMID: 38821717, PMCID: PMC11149121, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008589.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsHLA class-I antigen presentation machinery (APM) alterations mediate immune evasion in lung cancer brain metastases.
Vilariño N, Lopez De Rodas M, Ranjan K, Costantini A, Villalba M, Lu B, Kravitz C, Nadal E, Goldberg S, Nguyen D, Schalper K. HLA class-I antigen presentation machinery (APM) alterations mediate immune evasion in lung cancer brain metastases. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: e14014-e14014. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.e14014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLung cancer brain metastasisPrimary lung tumorsTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesImmune checkpoint inhibitorsCancer brain metastasesAntigen presentation machineryB2M expressionIFN-gBrain metastasesB2MImmune evasionAssociated with shorter overall survivalMultiplexed quantitative immunofluorescenceM expressionExpression of B2MB2M levelsExpression of pSTAT1Shorter overall survivalUnfavorable clinical featuresNo significant associationAssociated with unfavorable clinical featuresCheckpoint inhibitorsImmunotherapy resistanceProperties of tumorsPresentation machinery
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Determining Mechanisms of Sensitivity and Resistance to Anti-Cancer Therapy for Advanced Lung Cancer
HIC ID1603017333RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/20/2026Recruiting Participants
News
News
- November 13, 2024
Public School Students Explore Careers at Annual Yale Pathology Day
- May 06, 2024
Study Uncovers at Least One Cause of Roadblocks to Cancer Immunotherapy
- November 28, 2023
New Advanced Diagnostic Tests Lab to Perform, Interpret Clinical-grade Molecular Testing of Biomarkers
- January 10, 2023
Class of 1961 Cancer Research Awards Announced
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