Summary

Preclinical evaluation of immunotherapeutic strategies

Immunoediting has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer and therapeutic strategies targeting immunoevasive mechanisms have been substantially improved outcome in some malignancies. We are interested in pre-clinical evaluation of novel immunotherapeutic approaches using in-vitro and in-vivo models. One emphasis is the combination of conventional therapeutic strategies e.g. radiotherapy with immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Future Projects and Goals

We have established in-vitro and in-vivo models to determine the efficacy of a switchable chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) system (UniCAR platform) to target solid malignancies. As proof-of-principle, high risk prostate cancer was shown to be amenable to cytotoxicity mediated by UniCAR T-cells. However, we found adaptive immunoevasive strategies which might mitigate efficacy of the UniCAR platform.

- Extension of the list of solid-tumors targetable by UniCAR T-cells
- Combination of the UniCAR platform with other targeted immunotherapies e.g. immune checkpoint inhibitors to counteract immunosubversive mechanisms of resistance and to further increase anti-tumor responses.
- Using external beam irradiation to modify adaptive immunoevasive mechanisms associated with activity of the UniCAR platform (immunosensitizing radiotherapy)