Peter A. Savage, PhD

• Assistant Professor

Contact

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Department of Pathology
The University of Chicago
900 E. 57th St.
KCBD 6134
Chicago, IL 60637

Phone: 773.834.7553
Fax: 773.702.1024
psavage@bsd.uchicago.edu

Savage Lab

Our laboratory studies the immunological forces that modulate the development and progression of cancer.  How does the immune system influence the development of neoplasia arising from different cell types, in different organs?  How can the immune system be harnessed to induce cancer regression?  To study these and other questions, we utilize mouse models of spontaneous cancer for the study of basic immunological processes, and as pre-clinical models for the study of cancer immunotherapy.  Current major projects include:

1.  Development and function of tumor-associated regulatory T cells. We have identified a population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing highly conserved T cell receptors (TCRs) found recurrently in the tumor infiltrate of mice with prostate cancer.  We have generated TCR transgenic mice expressing this Treg TCR, and are using T cells from these mice to study Treg development and homeostasis, antigen specificity, function in the tumor microenvironment, and response to immunotherapy.

2.  Evolution and function of endogenous tumor-associated CD8+ T cell responses. Previously, in our studies of prostate cancer in TRAMP mice (Savage et al., Science 319:215, 2008), we have identified an endogenous CD8+ T cell response reactive to a peptide from histone H4 taking place in the majority of tumor-bearing mice.  We are currently studying the affinity selection, response kinetics, and function of tumor-infiltrating histone H4-reactive T cells, and are dissecting the cellular and molecular mechanisms that modulate the response.

Reserch Interests

In addition to studies in mouse models, we are developing a parallel research program in which insights gained from mouse models are used to guide studies and therapeutic intervention in human cancer patients, and hypotheses developed from observations in patients can be investigated systematically and prospectively in mouse models.