iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

It was a pleasure to share the latest on next-gen cell therapies @ufhealthcancer.bsky.social today. Thank you for the opportunity to kick off your fall Grand Rounds. It’s always inspiring to connect with colleagues who share our drive to push the boundaries of discovery and care.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Had fun trying some new songs with @drdanarocks.bsky.social! What do you think of our take on the Chapell Roan megahit #PinkPonyClub? #MusicMonday #DocsWhoRock #TheReMissions

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

🌟These findings may lead to vaccine and adoptive cell therapy strategies against pancreatic cancer. 🔗 Here's a link to the full study: lnkd.in/etf8fkf8 #Immunotherapy #PancreaticCancer #CancerResearch

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

➡️ In a recent study, investigators found that tumors make mistakes (translational errors) in the production of peptides that can lead to novel shared antigens on pancreatic cancers.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

➡️ This requires the identification of target peptides, called antigens, that are present in pancreatic cancers but not in normal tissues. While this can result from tumor DNA mutations, there is still a limited number of antigens capable of being recognized by T cells.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 ❓ How can we target pancreatic cancer with T cells?

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

🌟 Since cancers increase with age, future work towards understanding the mechanisms underlying these observations may lead to new treatment strategies. 🔗 Here's a link to the full article via @nejm.org - www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... #Immunology #Immunotherapy #CancerResearch

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

➡️ Analyzing nearly 50 thousand cancer patients, @oriolpich.bsky.social et al. found that patients whose tumors were infiltrated with CHIP-mutated immune cells had a worse prognosis, possibly due to increased inhibitory myeloid cells.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 ❓ How does aging affect the immune cells infiltrating tumors? ➡️ As we age, our circulating blood and immune cells can develop mutations called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP).

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

🗣️ Share this with the women in your life! The @NCCN has shared updated screening guidelines for women with extremely dense breasts. Moffitt’s Dr. Bethany Niell explains the new guidelines and why they are important. www.moffitt.org/endeavor/arc...

moffitt.org

Screening Guidelines Updated for Women With ‘Extremely Dense’ Breasts

Recommendations now encourage supplemental breast MRIs for certain patients

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Excited to be joined by biotech executives, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers today at #MoffittBoB to discuss the latest advances in cancer care. A big thank you to Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly for kicking off the event at our leadership breakfast. @moffittnews.bsky.social

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

🌟 Early findings suggest this approach could improve outcomes for patients who do not respond well to current immunotherapies. Personalized TIL could be an important tool in the fight against gastrointestinal cancers! Here’s a link to the full study- www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03627-5

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

➡️ In this study, published in Nature Medicine, Lowery, et al. found that expanding TILs that recognize patient-specific tumor mutations can enhance the immune response against cancer. When combined with anti-PD1, the response rate was 23 percent in patients with GI cancers.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

📢 New landmark research out today on #TILTherapy for GI cancers ❓Can neoantigen-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) improve #immunotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers?

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Happy #NationalDoctorsDay! Join me in recognizing all of our inspiring docs who make a difference in the lives of our patients every day @moffittnews.bsky.social! Photos from our Doctors’ Day lunch celebration! 🩺🥼

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

🌟 This study suggests that inhibiting MDK could be a valuable strategy to improve immunotherapy outcomes in melanoma! 🔗 Here’s a link to the full study: www.nature.com/articles/s43018-025-00929-y @naturecancer.bsky.social

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

➡️ Targeting MDK in preclinical models restored dendritic cell function, enhanced the activation of cytotoxic T cells, and improved antitumor immune responses.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

➡️ In this study, MDK was shown to induce immune suppression by altering dendritic cell function. This impaired the ability of the immune system to effectively target and eliminate melanoma cells, allowing the tumor to progress.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 ➡️ Melanoma secretes a protein called midkine (MDK), which plays a key role in reprogramming dendritic cells in the tumor microenvironment. ❓ How can this impact immune responses?

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Thank you to Lakeland Commissioner Stephanie Madden and other Polk County leaders for joining us this week to tour our brand-new Moffitt at SouthShore ambulatory center!

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Reposted by Dr. Patrick Hwu

Moffitt Cancer Center @moffittnews.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Moffitt Cancer Center is proud to be the first standalone cancer center in the world to open a Nikon Center of Excellence! This prestigious achievement reflects our commitment to cutting-edge imaging technology and groundbreaking cancer research. Read more: bit.ly/41L1R0L

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

🔗 Here’s a link to the full study- www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

🌟 This highlights the potential importance of B cells in antitumor immune responses and may indicate that B cell activation strategies should be studied in cancer patients.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

➡️ In a recent article by Ayana Ruffin, et al. dysfunctional (double negative) B cells were found to accumulate in patients with head and neck cancer and were associated with disease progression.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

➡️ B cells, which produce antibodies, are important to prevent infections and are now being studied for their role in antitumor immune responses.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 ❓ Are B cells important to eliminate cancers? T cells, capable of directly killing cancers, have been widely studied in tumor immunology.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Moffitt’s #PetTherapy dogs, Kayba, CJ and Kayse are ready for a pawesome #Valentinesday2025! ❤️ 🐾 Thanks to @moffittnews.bsky.social volunteer Ken Price for bringing them to spread cheer among our patients and teams at Moffitt McKinley Outpatient Center!

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Gratitude isn’t just important for the present, but the past and future, too. #ThursdayThoughts

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

🌟 These findings highlight the potential of personalized cancer vaccines as an effective adjuvant therapy in RCC. 🔗 Read more: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

➡️ All participants developed immune responses, and after 40 months, none of the 9 vaccinated patients had a recurrence, and all patients generated T cell immune responses against the PCV antigens, including RCC driver mutations.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

➡️ In this study, @DrChoueiri, et al. tested a PCV in patients with high-risk RCC, targeting key tumor mutations.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 🧬 Personalized cancer vaccines (PCV) train the immune system to recognize mutations unique to a patient's tumor, helping the body mount a targeted immune response. ❓ Can this approach help prevent renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from returning after surgery?

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Reposted by Dr. Patrick Hwu

Moffitt Cancer Center @moffittnews.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Join us in congratulating H. Lee Moffitt, the Outstanding Citizen of the Year, for his dedication to Tampa Bay and beyond! His vision led to a world-class cancer center, ensuring patients could receive top care in Florida. Read more: bit.ly/4aTbP4i #MoffittCancerCenter

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Reposted by Dr. Patrick Hwu

Moffitt Cancer Center @moffittnews.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Moffitt will be among a select group of elite U.S. cancer centers — and the only one in Tampa Bay — equipped with a next-generation, FDA-cleared, state-of-the-art proton therapy system. www.moffitt.org/newsroom/new...

moffitt.org

Moffitt Cancer Center Is First Health System in Tampa Bay Area To Receive Proton Therapy System for Cancer Treatment

IBA’s Proteus®ONE, arriving in February, will be the most advanced in the Tampa Bay area

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Reposted by Dr. Patrick Hwu

Moffitt Cancer Center @moffittnews.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

On National Women Physicians Day, we celebrate the women at Moffitt who are transforming cancer care through advocacy, research and compassionate patient-centered care. Read more about their impact: bit.ly/413kBte #NWPD @jessicayislam.bsky.social

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

🌟 This approach would reduce the need for additional, sometimes complicated resections and expedite the time to treatment! These promising findings could pave the way for more accessible and personalized therapies. 🔗 Here's the link to the full study: jitc.bmj.com/content/13/1...

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

➡️ The study found that primary FFPE tumor samples could be used to discover most of the neoantigens present in metastatic tumors and even unique neoantigens not present in metastatic tumors.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

🧬 In this study, investigators looked at whether archived, preserved primary tumor samples could be used for neoantigen discovery.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 ➡️ Immunotherapies targeting neoantigens can be effective in mediating long-term durable responses in advanced cancer patients. However, identifying these neoantigens from metastatic tumors can be logistically challenging.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

As leaders, we can shape the future of cancer care and research by mentoring the next generation! Lift others as you climb! #ThursdayThoughts

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I am thrilled that @moffittnews.bsky.social has been named a Best and Brightest Company to Work For in the Nation once again! This honor reflects our incredible team and culture of excellence as we work together to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. www.moffitt.org/newsroom/new...

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Happy #MusicMonday! #TheReMissions had so much fun covering “All of Me” by the legendary Billie Holiday. Music has a way of bringing us together and lifting spirits. Hope this brightens your day! @drdanarocks.bsky.social #DocsWhoRock

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Do you know what a biorepository is? 🧊❄️ @moffittnews.bsky.social, we're bringing deep-freeze technology to the Sunshine State to advance cancer research and care. Read more to see how this cutting-edge facility will help save lives: www.moffitt.org/endeavor/arc...

moffitt.org

Moffitt Bringing Deep Freeze Temps to the Sunshine State

The new 30,000-square-foot CRYOGENE facility will house Moffitt’s biospecimen collection and offer services to future partners

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

🌟 We’ve been trying to unravel this obesity paradox for many years, and this interesting analysis helps us better understand the mechanism and how we can tailor immunotherapy to improve outcomes! 🔗 Here's a link to the full study- jitc.bmj.com/lookup/doi/1...

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

➡️ In this study, @markyarchoan.bsky.social et al. evaluated a diverse cohort of pts. w/ multiple cancers. They found obese patients responded better to ICIs than those with lower BMI. Obesity was associated w/ lower levels of inhibitory cytokines and greater expression of t-cell exhaustion markers.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

#ScienceSaturday 🧵 ❓ What is the "obesity paradox" in cancer #immunotherapy? ➡️ Although obesity increases the risk of #cancer, it's also been linked with better outcomes for some patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a type of immunotherapy.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

We are so thrilled to begin serving patients at Moffitt at SouthShore in just a few short days. Learn more about the newest @moffittnews.bsky.social facility in this piece from ABC Action News! www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-...

abcactionnews.com

Moffitt Cancer Center opens new facility in Ruskin

On Friday, more than 200 team members had the opportunity to tour the new 75,000-square-foot Moffitt Cancer Center at SouthShore in Ruskin.

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Dr. Patrick Hwu @patrickhwumd.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

So great to connect with fellows from our Urologic Oncology, BMT, Gynecologic Oncology and Pathology teams @moffittnews.bsky.social at a recent breakfast with Dr. Karen Lu and Dr. John Cleveland! Thank you for your important role in shaping the future of oncology!

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Reposted by Dr. Patrick Hwu

Moffitt Cancer Center @moffittnews.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Enjoyed having the Stanley Cup visit Moffitt Cancer Center today! 🏆

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