Comparative Oncology and Immunotherapy
A One Health Approach to Cancer Treatment
Research
Dr. Sandey’s research lab is dedicated to developing nanobody-based immunotherapeutics to improve cancer treatment in canine and human patients. Cancer remains a major cause of mortality in geriatric dogs, with malignancies such as oral melanoma, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and mammary tumors significantly reducing survival and quality of life. A primary focus of their work is the modulation of immune checkpoints that regulate anti-tumor immunity. In particular, they target programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) – pathways that tumors exploit to evade immune detection.
The laboratory has developed a novel bispecific fusion protein platform that simultaneously blocks immunosuppressive signals and enhances T-cell activation. They have engineered multiple bispecific fusion proteins that integrate immune checkpoint blockade with tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) co-stimulation. These molecules inhibit tumor-induced immune suppression while activating effector immune responses, generating a robust and sustained anti-tumor effect.
Beyond veterinary applications, their translational approach leverages the pathological, molecular, and immunological similarities between naturally occurring cancers in dogs and human malignancies. This One Health strategy ensures that both veterinary and human patients benefit from cutting-edge immunotherapies, with pet dogs gaining access to novel treatments while providing clinically relevant, predictive preclinical models for human oncology. They aim to bridge the gap between veterinary and human cancer research, accelerating the development of transformative, broadly applicable immunotherapies.
Publications
Full Bibiliography: Dr. Sandey
Research Funding
NCI-NIH 1R15CA277677-01
Title: A novel nanobody-based agonist-redirected checkpoint (ARC) molecule, aPD1-Fc-OX40L, for cancer immunotherapy
Summary: This project aims to develop a novel bispecific fusion protein integrating PD-1 blockade with OX40 co-stimulation to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation Alabama (BCRFA)
Title: Combining Macrophage Modulation, PD-1 Blockade, and 4-1BB agonism for TNBC Therapy
Summary: This study investigates the synergistic effects of immune checkpoint inhibition and TNFRSF co-stimulation in TNBC, with a focus on macrophage modulation.
Join Our Lab
We welcome passionate students and researchers interested in comparative oncology and immunotherapy. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Dr. Sandey (mzs0011@auburn.edu) for potential opportunities.