Benjamin Y. Lu, MD, PhD
Instructor in Medicine (Medical Oncology)Cards
Appointments
Education
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
New York University (2015)
Training
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Appointments
Education
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
New York University (2015)
Training
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
Yale Cancer Center (2022)
Appointments
Education
Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
New York University (2015)
Training
Yale School of Medicine (2023)
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, and is currently a PhD candidate 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
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 Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCIDs
- View Lab Website
Hafler Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Harriet Kluger, MD
Veronica Chiang, MD, FAANS
David A. Hafler, MD, FANA
Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD
Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Lucia Jilaveanu, MD, PhD
Brain Neoplasms
Skin Neoplasms
Lung Neoplasms
Publications
2024
Decoy-resistant IL-18 reshapes the tumor microenvironment and enhances tumor rejection by anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma
D.A. Schoenfeld, D. Djureinovic, D.G. Su, L. Zhang, B.Y. Lu, L. Kamga, J.E. Mann, J. Huck, M. Hurwitz, D.A.Braun, L. Jilaveanu, A. Ring, H.M. Kluger. Decoy-resistant IL-18 reshapes the tumor microenvironment and enhances tumor rejection by anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma. (The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Under review)Peer-Reviewed Original Research In PressHLA 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 machineryGut-derived IFNγ-secreting CD4 T cells migrate to the brain and regulate adaptive behavior in a food-deprived state
3. T.M. Yoshida, M. Nguyen, L. Zhang, B.Y. Lu, B. Zhu, K. Murray, Y.S. Mineur, C. Zhang, E. Lin, D.A. Waizman, M. Coden, Y. Ma, K. Israni-Winger, A. Russo, H. Wang, W. Song, J. Al Souz, H. Zhao, J.E. Craft, M.R. Picciotto, J. Grutzendler, N. W. Palm, D.A. Hafler, A. Wang. (Nature, in revisions)Peer-Reviewed Original Research In PressCirculating Tumor Reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells Suppress Anti-Tumor Immunity in Patients with Melanoma
Lu BY, Lucca LE, Lewis W, Wang J, Nogeuira C, Heer S, Axisa PA, Buitrago-Pocasangre N, Pham GP, Kojima ML, Wei W, Aizenbud L, Bacchiocchi A, Zhang L, Walewski J, Chiang VC, Olino K, Clune J, Halaban R, Kluger Y, Coyle AJ, Kisielow J, Obermair FJ, Kluger HM, Hafler DA. Research Square. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3956671/v1.Peer-Reviewed Original Research In Press
2023
Chemoimmunotherapy for Untreated Lung Cancer Brain Metastases: Systemic Before Local Therapy?
Lu BY, Goldberg SB. Chemoimmunotherapy for Untreated Lung Cancer Brain Metastases: Systemic Before Local Therapy? J Clin Oncol 2023, JCO2301323. PMID: 37603819, DOI: 10.1200/JCO.23.01323.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersBSBM-18 SINGLE-CELL PROFILING TUMOR-INFILTRATING IMMUNE CELLS REVEALS CXCL13+ FOLLICULAR HELPER-LIKE CD4+ T CELLS IN HUMAN BRAIN TUMORS
Lu B, Lucca L, DiStasio M, Liu Y, Pham G, Buitrago-Pocasangre N, Arnal-Estape A, Moliterno J, Chiang V, Omuro A, Hafler D. BSBM-18 SINGLE-CELL PROFILING TUMOR-INFILTRATING IMMUNE CELLS REVEALS CXCL13+ FOLLICULAR HELPER-LIKE CD4+ T CELLS IN HUMAN BRAIN TUMORS. Neuro-Oncology Advances 2023, 5: iii4-iii4. PMCID: PMC10402449, DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad070.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsT cell populationsT cell functionT cellsHigh-grade gliomasBrain metastasesHuman brain tumorsImmune cellsBrain tumorsNon-small cell lung cancer brain metastasesB cellsAnti-PD-1 therapy responseCell lung cancer brain metastasesLung cancer brain metastasesProductive antitumor immune responsesFollicular helper T cellsT-cell receptor sequencingTumor-infiltrating T cellsAntitumor T-cell functionCancer brain metastasesCo-inhibitory receptorsAntitumor immune responseCell receptor sequencingLonger overall survivalCell functionTertiary lymphoid structuresBSBM-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 survivalBeyond 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
2022
TCR-sequencing in cancer and autoimmunity: barcodes and beyond
Pauken KE, Lagattuta KA, Lu BY, Lucca LE, Daud AI, Hafler DA, Kluger HM, Raychaudhuri S, Sharpe AH. TCR-sequencing in cancer and autoimmunity: barcodes and beyond. Trends In Immunology 2022, 43: 180-194. PMID: 35090787, PMCID: PMC8882139, DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.01.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsT cell receptorT cellsMolecular barcodesProgrammed Death-1 BlockadeTCR sequencesDeath-1 blockadeUnique TCR sequencesNaïve T cellsT cell functionCell divisionMolecular phenotypesBarcodesImmune responseAntigen specificitySingle cellsCell receptorCell functionRecent technological advancesCancerTCR dataCellsNeurological complications of lung cancer
Kaulen LD, Lu BY, Goldberg SB, Baehring JM, Chapter 15 - Neurological complications of lung cancer, Editor(s): Herbert B. Newton, Mark G. Malkin, Neurological Complications of Systemic Cancer and Antineoplastic Therapy (Second Edition), Academic Press, 2022, Pages 243-276, DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-821976-8.00027-xChapters
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Reviewer
Journal ServiceScienceDetails2023 - Presentactivity Member
Professional OrganizationsAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyDetails2018 - Presentactivity Member
Professional OrganizationsSociety for Immunotherapy of CancerDetails2018 - Presenthonor 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 States
Teaching & Mentoring
Mentoring
Sarah Reeves
Graduate student2024 - PresentJack Coburn
Postgrad associate2024 - PresentAlyssa Klee
Medical student2024 - PresentPavlos Karampoulas
Medical student2023 - 2023
Clinical Care
Overview
Clinical Specialties
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
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