Yvonne M. Saenger
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Columbia University
Papers
2
Total Citations
21
H-Index
2
About
Yvonne M. Saenger is a leading physician-scientist whose research focuses on the intersection of immunotherapy and head and neck oncology, with a particular emphasis on human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC). Her major contributions center on pioneering the use of live attenuated *Listeria monocytogenes*-based therapeutic vaccines to harness the immune system against HPV-driven malignancies. In her landmark work, Saenger conducted a "window of opportunity" trial administering the ADXS11-001 immunotherapy—an HPV E7 antigen-expressing *Listeria* construct—prior to robotic surgery for HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. This innovative approach demonstrated that preoperative vaccination could enhance HPV-specific T cell immunity within the tumor microenvironment, offering a proof-of-concept for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in this rapidly rising cancer type. Her most cited paper (2016, 19 citations) reports that this strategy successfully boosted antitumor immune responses, paving the way for combination immunotherapeutic strategies. Saenger’s work is notable for translating fundamental immunology into a clinically feasible, surgically integrated trial design, establishing a new paradigm for treating HPV-associated cancers. Her research continues to shape how we leverage viral antigens to improve outcomes for patients with HPVOPC.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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