[1072] Metabolic Control of Immunity

One out of five women and men will be diagnosed with cancer throughout their life. Despite medical progress in the last decades, many types of cancer and cancers in advanced stages remain difficult to cure as they are refractory to current chemo- or radiotherapeutic regimens. Cancer development and progression can only occur when tumor cells are able to escape anti-tumor immune surveillance. Therefore, immunotherapy aims to reinvigorate anti-tumor immunity and is becoming a key therapeutic modality in the fight against cancer. Despite obtaining complete remission in a fraction of cancer patients, many patients do not show durable response to the therapy. This is largely due to the very hostile and immunosuppressive microenvironment of solid tumors. The tumor microenvironment is characterized by aberrant blood vessels and rapidly proliferating tumor cells, leading to hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. This dramatically impact the potential of tumor-infiltrating immune cells to sustain their anti-tumor activity.

Our lab investigates why immune cells lose their ability to effectively fight cancer. We hypothesize that cancer and immune cell metabolism are intricately intertwined and interdependent within the spatial context of the tumor microenvironment, and that this relationship can predict treatment sensitivity and account for relapse. By studying how the metabolism of these immune cells influences their ability to stay active and perform their functions, we aim to identify new approaches to improve anti-tumor immune function and the efficacy of immunotherapy.