Immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and CAR T cells can induce durable responses in some cancers, yet their efficacy in solid tumors remains limited. A major driver of resistance is the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), which restricts effector immune-cell infiltration or can suppress their function even after they reach the tumor. Although several combination strategies have been developed to boost immunotherapy activity, many are associated with substantial toxicity, underscoring the need for new approaches that selectively target TME components that shape anti-tumor immunity.
Building on our ERC Consolidator Grant project, the overall objectives of this proposal were to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting structural components of the TME and evaluate combination regimens designed to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies in solid tumors.