Dr. Li's research focuses on the generation of tumor-reactive effector cells for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. To sensitize/induce tumor-reactive T cells and B cells in vivo, lymph node cells are primed utilizing as vaccines the genetically modified tumor cells, tumor cells admixed with bacterial adjutants, or antigen/antigen presenting cells. In order to optimize the methods that are capable of expanding lymphoid cells in vitro while maintaining or augmenting their antitumor reactivity, Dr. Li's research effort centers on developing new strategies for T cell and B cell activation/expansion using monoclonal antibodies, recombinant cytokines, as well as other T cell and/or B cell stimuli. Dr. Li's research effort is also devoted to the identification and characterization of tumor-specific T cell and B cell subsets. This issue is addressed by defining the specific antitumor reactivity of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells; differentiating Th1/Tc1 versus Th2/Tc2 cytokine responses; studying molecular markers on T cells or B cells by T cell or B cell subsets. Dr. Li's current research interests involving development of novel therapeutic approaches by targeting cancer stem cells or by isolating and characterizing tumor associated antigens represent new directions taken in the laboratory.

Dr. Li is a member of the Tumor Immunology Program of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan. His research to develop innovative cancer treatment approaches through adoptive immunotherapy is clinically relevant. A novel protocol based on Dr. Li's effort utilizing activated T cells is funded by NIH and is now being used in a clinical trail to treat renal cell cancers at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

Selected publications:

1. Li, Q., Carr, A., Donald, E.J., Skitzki, J.J., Okuyama, R., Stoolman, M.L., and Chang, A.E., Synergistic effects of IL-12 and IL-18 in skewing tumor-reactive T cell responses toward a type 1 pattern. Cancer Research, 65:1063-1070, 2005.
2. Li, Q., Grover, A., Donald, E. J., Carr, A., Yu, J., Whitfield, J., Nelson, M.,Takeshita, N., Chang, A.E.,: Simultaneous Targeting of CD3 on T cells and CD40 on B or Dendritic Cells Augments the Antitumor Reactivity of Tumor-primed Lymph Node Cells. J. Immunology, 175:1424-1432, 2005.
3. Huang, J., Wang, Y., Guo, J., Lu, H., Ma, L.,Teitz ŠTennenbaum, S., Chang, A. E., and Li, Q.: Radiation-induced Apoptosis along with Local and Systemic Cytokine Elaboration is Associated with DC plus Radiotherapy-mediated Renal Cell Tumor Regression. Clinical Immunology, 123:298-310, 2007.
4. Iuchi, T, Teitz-Tennenbuam, S, Huang, J, Redman, B.G, Hughes, S.D., Li, M., Jiang, G., Chang, A.E., and Li, Q.: IL-21 augments the efficacy of T cell therapy by eliciting concurrent cellular and humoral responses. Cancer Research, 68:4431-41, 2008.
5. Li, S., Yang, J., Urban, F.A., MacGregor, J.N., Hughes, D.P.M., Chang, A.E., Mcdonagh, K.T., and Li, Q.: Genetically Engineered T Cells Expressing A HER2- specific Chimeric Receptor Mediate Antigen-specific Tumor Regression. Cancer Gene Therapy, 15:382-392, 2008.