Samuele Tardito, Ph.D.

Research Overview

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a common brain tumor in children that still requires the development of more effective and less toxic treatments, especially for high-risk or relapsed cases. Cellular immunotherapy, which uses the immune system to fight cancer, offers a promising new approach.

Our team has developed a method to identify unique molecules in MB called tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). TSAs can be targeted by immune cells to kill tumor cells. While these immune cells work well in lab tests, MB tumors often build a protective tumor microenvironment that slows down their cancer-killing activity. To better understand and overcome this resistance, we are developing advanced 3D lab models that mimic the actual tumor environment in the lab.

First, we created 3D MB clusters of tumor cells and showed how TSA-targeting immune cells can eliminate them. Now, we are adding immune-suppressing cells found in MB tumors to these models to make them more realistic. These improved models are helping us study how MB avoids immune attacks and test strategies to decrease this suppression.

We are also working with patient-derived tumoroids (PDTs), which are miniature tumor samples taken directly from children during surgery. PDTs retain many features of the original tumor, including its immune environment, and allow us to test therapies in a more personalized way. By combining these models with immune therapies, we aim to develop safer, targeted treatments for children with MB and other brain tumors.

My “Why”

I’ve always had a passion for science and helping patients. My journey began in molecular biology, where I was fascinated by how tiny genetic changes can profoundly impact health. That curiosity led me to translational research focused on cancer immunoregulation. Earlier in my career, I worked on gene therapy strategies to boost immune activation against cancer and autoimmune diseases, fueling my commitment to bridging lab discoveries with real-world impact.

Today, I explore how cells and molecular pathways shape immune responses in pediatric brain tumor 3D models. It’s my goal to turn these insights into safer, more effective treatments for medulloblastoma and other pediatric brain tumors.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation enables me to advance my research by developing a 3D immunosuppressive model of medulloblastoma. This innovative model will allow us to study how the tumor microenvironment promotes resistance to cell-based immunotherapy, a major challenge in treating pediatric brain cancers.

By uncovering these mechanisms, we aim to identify new strategies to overcome immunosuppression and improve the effectiveness of T-cell-based immunotherapies. Ultimately, this work seeks to deliver safer, more targeted treatments for children with medulloblastoma and other brain tumors, bridging cutting-edge science with real-world impact.