The ImmunoVerse™ Origins of Cancer Immunotherapy, ft. Dr. Steven Rosenberg
Apr 24, 2025
In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, the Chief of the Surgery Branch at the National Cancer Institute, shares his pioneering journey in cancer immunotherapy. He discusses his early motivations and the moment he recognized the immune system's potential in battling cancer. Listeners will hear about his groundbreaking work with IL-2, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and CAR-T therapies. Rosenberg also reflects on overcoming skepticism and his vision for the future of immunotherapy, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and persistence.
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Early Calling To Help Others
- Steven Rosenberg decided at age six to become a doctor after learning about the Holocaust and wanting to help people.
- That childhood resolve shaped his lifelong drive to create the medicine of tomorrow.
Lessons From The Luncheonette
- Rosenberg worked in his father's luncheonette through high school and summers, making egg creams and learning about everyday life.
- The experience taught him he wanted a more creative career and exposed him to the lives of ordinary people.
Patient Recovery That Sparked Immunology
- Rosenberg observed a melanoma patient who spontaneously recovered and later stayed disease-free for 12 years after surgery.
- That case convinced him the body could learn to destroy cancer and pointed him to the immune system.