Noel Turner, MD, MHS
Research & Publications
Biography
Research Summary
My research employs mouse tumor models to study the interactions between cancer cells and the immune system with a particular focus on the promises and pitfalls of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Extensive Research Description
I have used mouse models of melanoma and colon carcinoma to show that B cell-depletion has no impact on the anti-tumor effects of PD-1 blockade, a result that lends support to the use of B cell-depleting antibodies such as rituximab for the treatment of certain autoimmune toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors. I have additionally used mouse models of melanoma and renal cell carcinoma to show that therapies that promote differentiation of pro-inflammatory macrophages significantly improve the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment and may provide a method for increasing response rates to immunotherapy.
My secondary focus is assessing the extent to which T cell exhaustion, a phenomenon seen in chronic viral infections, contributes to the immune system’s failure to eradicate melanoma cells. Using YUMMER1.7, an immunogenic mouse melanoma cell line developed by the Bosenberg lab here at Yale, I have developed an experimental protocol in which murine melanomas are excised and mice are subsequently rechallenged with the same melanoma cells, thus providing a means of addressing questions about immune memory and T cell function as they relate to melanoma.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Dermatology; Melanoma
Selected Publications
- Subepidermal blistering eruptions, including bullous pemphigoid, following COVID-19 vaccinationTomayko MM, Damsky W, Fathy R, McMahon DE, Turner N, Valentin MN, Rallis T, Aivaz O, Fox LP, Freeman EE. Subepidermal blistering eruptions, including bullous pemphigoid, following COVID-19 vaccination. Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology 2021, 148: 750-751. PMID: 34275656, PMCID: PMC8280592, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.06.026.
- Recurrent cutaneous Exophiala phaeohyphomycosis in an immunosuppressed patient.Turner N, Kibbi N, Panse G, Imaeda S. Recurrent cutaneous Exophiala phaeohyphomycosis in an immunosuppressed patient. Cutis 2020, 106: e7-e8. PMID: 33465199, DOI: 10.12788/cutis.0120.
- LB1122 Myeloid targeting in combination with PD1 inhibition boosts anti-tumor immunity in melanomaKrykbaeva I, Damsky W, Turner N, Perry C, Kluger H, Bosenberg M. LB1122 Myeloid targeting in combination with PD1 inhibition boosts anti-tumor immunity in melanoma. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2019, 139: b19. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.06.089.
- B cell depletion or absence does not impede anti-tumor activity of PD-1 inhibitorsDamsky W, Jilaveanu L, Turner N, Perry C, Zito C, Tomayko M, Leventhal J, Herold K, Meffre E, Bosenberg M, Kluger HM. B cell depletion or absence does not impede anti-tumor activity of PD-1 inhibitors. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2019, 7: 153. PMID: 31200747, PMCID: PMC6567557, DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0613-1.
- Atezolizumab‐associated vitiligo‐like leukoderma in a patient with transitional cell carcinomaTurner N, Leventhal J. Atezolizumab‐associated vitiligo‐like leukoderma in a patient with transitional cell carcinoma. International Journal Of Dermatology 2018, 57: e90-e92. PMID: 30091457, DOI: 10.1111/ijd.14191.
- Genetics of metastasis: melanoma and other cancersTurner N, Ware O, Bosenberg M. Genetics of metastasis: melanoma and other cancers. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis 2018, 35: 379-391. PMID: 29722002, DOI: 10.1007/s10585-018-9893-y.
- 1245 PD-1 blockade impedes tumor growth in the immunogenic YUMMER1.7 mouse melanoma modelTurner N, Damsky W, Wang J, Meeth K, Blenman K, Bosenberg M. 1245 PD-1 blockade impedes tumor growth in the immunogenic YUMMER1.7 mouse melanoma model. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2018, 138: s211. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.03.1260.