Juan C. Osorio, MD

Dr. Osorio seeks to improve our understanding of how a newer class of cancer therapies, known as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), can more effectively eliminate tumors while activating the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer. Specifically, he is studying enfortumab vedotin (EV), an FDA-approved ADC that targets Nectin-4, a protein commonly expressed in several cancer types. The work aims to uncover how these therapies stimulate anti-tumor immune responses and why some patients respond better than others. By identifying the mechanisms that drive effective anti-tumor immune responses, this research could help guide the design and development of safer, more effective treatments and personalized immunotherapy combinations. While his primary focus is on urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer), where EV is already used clinically, the findings may also have broader relevance for other Nectin-4–expressing cancers, including breast, lung, ovarian, and head and neck cancers.