Fumito Ito

Fumito Ito, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, with a focus on translational cancer immunology. He serves as Co-Leader of the Translational and Clinical Sciences Research (TACS) Program, driving investigations into immune cell dynamics and tumor interactions.

Research Interests

His work centers on:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination therapies in melanoma
• CX3CR1+ CD8 T-cell biology across cancers
• Dendritic cell engineering and neoantigen vaccination
• Tumor microenvironment modulation in resistant cancers
• Role of inflammasomes in immunotherapy-induced toxicity

Publications Overview

Recent publications highlight his expertise in melanoma immunology, gut microbiome dynamics, and dendritic cell-based therapies. Key trends include:

• Multi-omic profiling of brain metastases
• Notch signaling in stem cell-derived dendritic cell generation
• Mechanisms of T-cell exhaustion and persistence
• Preclinical validation of localized immunomodulatory strategies

Labs and Teams

He contributes to the TACS Program, bridging clinical and translational research to advance cancer immunotherapy protocols and biomarker discovery.