Towards enhancing immunotherapy - Insights from functional genomics

Full invitation

Prof. Daniel Peeper, 

Department of Molecular Oncology & Immunology at the Netherlands,
Cancer Institute (NKI),
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Host
Prof. Carmit Levy,

Department of Human Genetics
and Biochemistry
Medical School
Tel Aviv University

Notwithstanding major advances made in therapeutic opportunities over the last decade, many patients fail to durably benefit from targeted and immunotherapies, most commonly because of early or late resistance. We employ function-based, genome-wide screens and other advanced technologies to develop concepts for rational combinatorial cancer treatment, targeting both cancer and immune cells more effectively. 

On the one hand, we aim to increase our understanding of how cancer cells rewire their signaling networks, particularly in the context of immunotherapy, to expose and exploit new pharmacologically tractable susceptibilities.

On the other, we manipulate various cell types including T cells from the patient’s own immune system to revert their disfunction and boost specific cytotocxicity towards tumor cells. We complement these studies with analyses of clinical samples in collaboration with our colleagues at NKI-AVL. 
In this way, we intend to sensitize tumor cells to T cell elimination while boosting T cell antitumor activity and develop concepts for new rational combinatorial therapies, aiming to achieve more durable clinical responses. 

For more information and assistance with accessibility issues, please contact: Sigal Sugavi - sigalb@tauex.tau.ac.il