Benjamin Y. Lu, MD, PhD
Instructor in Medicine (Medical Oncology)DownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Medical Oncology
Primary
Education
PhD
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
MD
New York University (2015)
New York University (2015)
Training
Postdoctoral Fellow
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Fellowship
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Appointments
Medical Oncology
Primary
Education
PhD
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
MD
New York University (2015)
New York University (2015)
Training
Postdoctoral Fellow
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Fellowship
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Appointments
Medical Oncology
Primary
Education
PhD
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
MD
New York University (2015)
New York University (2015)
Training
Postdoctoral Fellow
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Fellowship
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
About
Titles
Instructor in Medicine (Medical Oncology)
Biography
Benjamin Y. Lu, MD, PhD is an Instructor in the Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology) at the Yale School of Medicine and a Medical Oncologist at Smilow Cancer Hospital. He received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine with Honors in Research. Dr. Lu completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital and his fellowship in Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center, where he also served as the inaugural Chief Fellow. His clinical and research interests involve understanding and improving immune therapies for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. During his fellowship, Dr. Lu enrolled in the Investigative Medicine Program studying T cell responses in the context of human brain tumors using multi-omic single-cell techniques under the mentorship of Dr. David A. Hafler. Dr. Lu’s research has been supported by the Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, American Brain Tumor Association Lucien Rubenstein Award, Yale Cancer Center Advanced Training Program for Physician Scientists (T32), and the Yale Cancer Center Calabresi Immuno-Oncology Training Program (K12).
Appointments
Medical Oncology
InstructorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Thoracic Cancers
- Janeway Society
- Medical Oncology
- Tumor Neuroimmunology Lab
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- PhD
- Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Yale School of Medicine (2023)
- Fellowship
- Yale Cancer Center (2022)
- Chief Fellow
- Yale Cancer Center (2022)
- Residency
- Yale New Haven Hospital (2019)
- Internship
- Massachusetts General Hospital (2016)
- MD
- New York University (2015)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Brain Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms
ORCID
0000-0001-8764-8384- View Lab Website
Hafler Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Benjamin Y. Lu's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Benjamin Y. Lu's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Benjamin Y. Lu is interested in exploring.
Harriet Kluger, MD
Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD
Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Veronica Chiang, MD, FAANS
Lucia Jilaveanu, MD, PhD
Michael Hurwitz, MD, PhD
29Publications
941Citations
Brain Neoplasms
Lung Neoplasms
Publications
2024
Circulating tumor-reactive KIR(+)CD8(+) T cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma.
Lu BY, Lucca LE, Lewis W, Wang J, Nogueira CV, Heer S, Rayon-Estrada V, Axisa PP, Reeves SM, Buitrago-Pocasangre NC, Pham GH, Kojima ML, Wei W, Aizenbud L, Bacchiocchi A, Zhang L, Walewski JJ, Chiang V, Olino K, Clune J, Halaban R, Kluger Y, Coyle AJ, Kisielow J, Obermair FJ, Kluger HM, Hafler DA. Circulating tumor-reactive KIR(+)CD8(+) T cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma. Nat Immunol 2024 PMID: 39609626, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-02023-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCirculating tumor-reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma
Lu B, Lucca L, Lewis W, Wang J, Nogueira C, Heer S, Rayon-Estrada V, Axisa P, Reeves S, Buitrago-Pocasangre N, Pham G, Kojima M, Wei W, Aizenbud L, Bacchiocchi A, Zhang L, Walewski J, Chiang V, Olino K, Clune J, Halaban R, Kluger Y, Coyle A, Kisielow J, Obermair F, Kluger H, Hafler D. Circulating tumor-reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma. Nature Immunology 2024, 1-10. PMID: 39609626, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-02023-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCD8+ T cellsAnti-tumor immunityRegulatory T cellsT cellsSubpopulation of CD8+ T cellsCytotoxic CD8+ T cellsHuman CD8+ T cellsTumor antigen-specific CD8Impaired anti-tumor immunityTumor antigen-specificPoor overall survivalTumor rejectionKIR expressionOverall survivalTumor antigensImmune evasionCellular mediatorsHuman cancersCD8MelanomaTumorTranscriptional programsFunctional heterogeneityImmunityPatientsDecoy-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 modelHLA 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 machineryProviding 0.1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Support to Fellowship Core Faculty Improves Faculty Involvement in Fellowship Education and Recruitment
Butt A, Christian J, Kress A, Lu B, Hurwitz M, Goldberg S, Podoltsev N, Gilkes L, Lee A. Providing 0.1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Support to Fellowship Core Faculty Improves Faculty Involvement in Fellowship Education and Recruitment. Journal Of Cancer Education 2024, 39: 325-334. PMID: 38430454, DOI: 10.1007/s13187-024-02414-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsFull-time equivalent supportFull-time equivalentAmerican Council for Graduate Medical EducationCore facultyFellowship programsFellowship educationGraduate Medical EducationImprove job satisfactionCF programPotential unintended consequencesMedical educationSalary supportSurvey respondentsIncreased participationMedical oncologyUnintended consequencesSubspecialty fellowshipsIncreased senseSense of commitmentJob satisfactionFellowshipEducationFaculty involvement
2023
Beyond the Lab and Into the Hospital: An Outlook on the Clinical Utility of Spatial Omics Technologies
Pucciarelli D, Lu B, Zlobec I, DiStasio M. Beyond the Lab and Into the Hospital: An Outlook on the Clinical Utility of Spatial Omics Technologies. GEN Biotechnology 2023, 2: 360-371. DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2023.0030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricChemoimmunotherapy for Untreated Lung Cancer Brain Metastases: Systemic Before Local Therapy?
Lu B, Goldberg S. Chemoimmunotherapy for Untreated Lung Cancer Brain Metastases: Systemic Before Local Therapy? Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 4462-4464. PMID: 37603819, DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.01323.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricBSBM-16 HLA CLASS-I ANTIGEN PRESENTATION MACHINERY AND IFN-γ PATHWAY ALTERATIONS IN LUNG CANCER BRAIN METASTASES
Vilarino N, de Rodas M, Lu B, Goldberg S, Schalper K. BSBM-16 HLA CLASS-I ANTIGEN PRESENTATION MACHINERY AND IFN-γ PATHWAY ALTERATIONS IN LUNG CANCER BRAIN METASTASES. Neuro-Oncology Advances 2023, 5: iii4-iii4. PMCID: PMC10402438, DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad070.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLung cancer brain metastasesPrimary lung tumorsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsCancer brain metastasesBrain metastasesPresentation machineryClinicopathologic variablesHLA classTumor cell PD-L1 expressionBackground Immune checkpoint inhibitorsLocal adaptive immune responseHLA Class I AntigenPD-L1 expressionDuration of responseB2MAdaptive immune responsesDistinct immunomodulatory propertiesImmune evasion mechanismsClass I AntigenIFN-γ signalingIRF-1Interferon regulatory factor 1Checkpoint inhibitorsMost patientsWorse survivalThe Association Between Civil Legal Needs After Incarceration, Psychosocial Stress, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Lu B, Thomas K, Feder S, Bhandary-Alexander J, Aminawung J, Puglisi L. The Association Between Civil Legal Needs After Incarceration, Psychosocial Stress, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors. The Journal Of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2023, 51: 856-864. PMID: 38477262, PMCID: PMC10937168, DOI: 10.1017/jme.2024.26.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLegal needsCardiovascular disease risk factorsDisease risk factorsCivil legal needsIncarcerated peoplePsychosocial stressAssociated with psychosocial stressRelease peoplePublic benefitsRisk factorsHigh blood pressureHealthcare accessRe-entryHigh cholesterolIncarcerationBlood pressureNeedsAssociationPeoplePsychosocialHealthcareSocietyDebtCardiovascularHealthBeyond the Lab and Into the Hospital: An Outlook on the Clinical Utility of Spatial Omics Technologies
Pucciarelli DM, Lu BY, Zlobec I, DiStasio M. Beyond the Lab and Into the Hospital: An Outlook on the Clinical Utility of Spatial Omics Technologies. GEN Biotechnology. Oct 2023.360-371. http://doi.org/10.1089/genbio.2023.0030Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor K12 Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology
National AwardNational Cancer InstituteDetails07/01/2023honor T32 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
National AwardNational Cancer InstituteDetails08/01/2021United Stateshonor Young Investigator Award
International AwardConquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)Details05/28/2021United Stateshonor Lucien Rubinstein Award
National AwardAmerican Brain Tumor Association (ABTA)Details08/01/2012United States
Clinical Care
Overview
Clinical Specialties
Thoracic Oncology
Board Certifications
Medical Oncology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2022
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2020
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.
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News
- November 28, 2024
Unexpected Findings in Study of T Cells, Considered Front-line Fighters Against Advanced Melanoma
- December 19, 2021
New DEI Curriculum for Medical Oncology-Hematology Fellowship Program
- April 30, 2019
17th Annual Research in Residency Day A Success
- February 25, 2019Source: WBUR
'Do I Still Need To Take This?' Why Doctors Should 'Deprescribe' Pills
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