Molecular characterization of the immunogenic profile in SCLC tumors (C01)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology ; Hematology, Oncology ; Immunology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 413326622

J. George and her colleagues will strive to identify molecular determinants of response to immunotherapy. They will study genomic and molecular phenotypes of patients pre- and post-immunotherapy and decipher genomic evolutionary trajectories that cause sensitivity and relapse to ICI. To this end, genomic features causing immune-related recognition, creating increase in tumor mutational burden und immunogenic neo-epitopes will be dissected. They have built a collection of up to 30 pairs of patient-derived xenografts and autologous immune cells to investigate in vitro and in vivo tumor and immune cells interactions. They are also the key collaborators of C03 and C05 in the multi-group effort to pinpoint molecular determinants of response to immunotherapy. In their own work, they will focus on generating 3D spheroid and organoid cultures for scalable co-culture with autologous immune cells, in vivo humanization of xenotransplant tumor models of SCLC and perturbation of genomic and molecular parameters impacting immune cell recognition.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1399: Mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance in small cell lung cancer
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Julie George