Researcher Spotlight: Hunter Cochran, MD

Washington University in St. Louis
Kellie and Jeff Fellinge Scholar

Many traditional immunotherapies for lymphomas work by broadly suppressing the immune system. Dr. Cochran’s research focuses on the development of a personalized cancer vaccine for patients with lymphoma, with the goal of training each patient’s own immune system to recognize and attack the unique cancer cells within their body.

“We begin by analyzing a patient’s tumor using advanced genetic sequencing to identify unique ‘neoantigens’—small pieces of protein found only on their cancer cells,” explains Dr. Cochran. “We then create a customized vaccine
targeting those neoantigens, with the goal of stimulating a precise and durable immune response.” Vaccination can then be combined with other immunotherapies for those who do not receive a robust response to vaccination alone to further boost the immune system to kill off cancerous
cells. Dr. Cochran hopes that this strategy will lead to longer-lasting remissions (including potentially curative results), reduce the need for chemotherapy, and ultimately shift the lymphoma treatment paradigm away from chronic immunosuppression and toward immune-based control of the disease.

Based on feedback she received as part of the Lymphoma Scientific Research Mentorship Program, Dr. Cochran has already refined her project by incorporating patient-reported outcomes into her proposal to better capture
patients’ experiences with treatment. “What makes lymphoma so meaningful is the long-term relationship we often develop with our patients,” she explains. “Many patients live with this disease for years, and as physicians, we have the privilege and responsibility of caring for them over that entire journey. Because of this, I am deeply motivated not only to extend patients’ lives but also to improve how they live during that time. That means minimizing treatment-related side effects while maximizing durable disease control.”