Objective
The goal of this project is to describe the tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms that determine whether ‘foreign’ human cancers are sensitive or resistant to the tumor-specific T cell response they induce. In this effort, I will focus on 3 linked questions:
1). While we know that T cell activity in human tumors can lead to cancer regression, we do not know whether such regression is mostly mediated by T cell secreted cytokines or granzyme mediated lysis. We will address this fundamental question by analysis of the sensitivity of human tumors to defined T cell effector mechanisms, and subsequent correlation to patient outcome upon immunotherapeutic intervention.
2). We will complement this analysis of baseline tumor sensitivity with a systematic analysis of acquired immunotherapy resistance in patients treated with T cell checkpoint blockade. Through comparative genomic and immunological analysis of pre- and post-therapy tumors we will determine the clinical importance of tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms of acquired resistance, and will identify novel mechanisms of such resistance.
3). In addition to these unbiased analyses of tumor resistance, we will focus on one resistance pathway of particular interest: Expression of PD-L1 has emerged as the key immune inhibitory pathway in human cancers, but our understanding of PD-L1 protein regulation is highly limited. We have recently identified PD-L1M1 as a molecular partner of PD-L1 that controls its cell surface abundance. A central goal of this application is to understand the function of the PD-L1 – PD-L1M1 complex, and whether PD-L1M1 can be used as a target for immunotherapeutic interventions.
Collectively, this project exploits three approaches to reach one goal: fundamental insight into the mechanisms that control the sensitivity of human cancers to T cell attack. In addition to the mechanistic insights we will obtain, this project may yield novel strategies to enhance tumor-specific T cell activity in patients.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2016-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1066 CX AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.