Submitted on May 4, 2026
Lisa Chesner, PhD, has joined the UCSF Department of Urology faculty, bringing expertise in prostate cancer biology and tumor immunology to the department’s research mission. Dr. Chesner has been part of UCSF since 2018, when she joined as a postdoctoral scholar, and now leads her own independent research program.
Using CRISPR to Unlock New Targets in Prostate Cancer
At the center of Dr. Chesner’s research is the use of advanced functional genomics tools, including whole genome CRISPR screening, to uncover new ways to treat advanced prostate cancer.
These large-scale approaches allow her team to systematically identify genes that regulate how cancer cells interact with the immune system. This can reveal new therapeutic targets that might otherwise go undetected.
“CRISPR-based screens allow us to take a broad, unbiased approach,” she said.
Recent studies used a whole genome CRISPR screen to better understand how prostate cancer cells regulate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The findings showed that the androgen receptor, a key driver of prostate cancer, can suppress MHC expression and help tumors evade immune detection.
In more advanced, treatment resistant disease, her research has also identified a potential role for the glucocorticoid receptor in continuing that suppression. Her lab is now working to better understand these mechanisms and explore how they can be targeted to improve immunotherapy responses.
Advancing Immunotherapy
Dr. Chesner’s work focuses on metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, an advanced stage of the disease that develops when tumors become resistant to standard hormone therapies. While localized prostate cancer is often highly treatable, advanced disease remains difficult to manage, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 30 percent.
Her research aims to improve how the immune system recognizes and targets prostate cancer cells, an area where progress has lagged compared to other cancers.
“Prostate cancer is typically considered ‘immune cold,’ meaning it can evade detection by the immune system,” she explained. “Immunotherapies have transformed treatment in cancers like melanoma and lung cancer, but they have not yet been as effective in prostate cancer. We are trying to understand why and how to change that.”
By understanding how immune recognition changes throughout disease progression, her work aims to identify new combination strategies to make immunotherapies more effective.
A Strong Foundation in Collaborative Science
Dr. Chesner’s scientific approach has been shaped by her training at UCSF, including her postdoctoral work in the lab of the late Felix Feng, MD.
“I was incredibly fortunate to train with Dr. Feng,” she said. “He was not only a phenomenal physician scientist, but also one of the best human beings I have ever met. He really showed me the power of team science and how much more is possible when you bring together people with different expertise.”
She continues to apply that collaborative approach in her work today.
“UCSF offers a truly exceptional environment for prostate cancer research,” she said. “The Prostate Cancer Program brings together clinicians, computational scientists, and basic researchers, allowing us to approach problems from multiple angles.” That exchange of ideas not only strengthens the science but helps ensure that lab discoveries are aligned with patient needs and ultimately, better treatments.
Toward More Effective, Personalized Therapies
A key goal of Dr. Chesner’s research is to help make immunotherapy more effective for prostate cancer patients, particularly those with advanced disease who currently have limited treatment options.
“By understanding how the regulation of these pathways changes over the course of the disease, we can identify the optimal window for treatment and the right patients to receive it,” she said. “That opens the door to more personalized and effective combination therapies.”
With several next generation immunotherapies already in early phase clinical trials, she sees promising progress ahead.
“I think we could start to see real impact within the next three to five years,” she said.
Looking Ahead
As she builds her lab, Dr. Chesner is focused on expanding her research team, advancing multiple projects, and generating data to support future large-scale funding. Her group is already pursuing new studies to identify therapeutic targets for specific subsets of prostate cancer patients.
She remains motivated by the patients who stand to benefit from this work.
“One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer,” she noted. “Hearing directly from patients and advocates is a powerful reminder of why this research matters.”
Working at the intersection of gene editing, tumor immunology, and hormone signaling, Dr. Chesner is helping to chart a path toward more precise and effective treatments for advanced prostate cancer.