Sinergia funding scheme - Swiss National Science Foundation
Making tumors vulnerable to immunity
Lay Summary
The advent of contemporary immunotherapy represents a transformative advance in oncology, though its efficacy is limited to a minority of patients. A key factor underlying this limited response is immune evasion mediated by the suppression of vascular adhesion molecules within the tumor microenvironment. This process is facilitated by persistent tumor angiogenesis. We have defined this immunosuppressive vascular phenotype as "tumor endothelial cell anergy."
The objective of this project is to overcome tumor endothelial cell anergy through the use of low-dose, multi-drug regimens, thereby potentiating the anti-tumor immune response and improving the outcomes of immunotherapy.
Team
Applicants: Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska (coordinator), Mikael Pittet, Olivier Michielin, Arjan W. Griffioen. Partners: Vincent Zoete