Metabolic Networks in Tumor Immunity
Dr. Inmaculada Martínez Reyes
Our research focuses on uncovering how metabolism regulates the immune system's control of tumors. Our ultimate goal is to find suitable metabolic interventions targeting cancer and T cells to enhance the outcome of cancer immunotherapies.
Cancer remains a leading global cause of death, with a definitive cure still elusive for most tumor types. Despite the success of immunotherapy, further advancements are necessary to improve its efficacy and extend its benefits to a broader population. The tumor microenvironment significantly influences T cells' ability to mount effective immune responses against tumors. Factors such as competition for nutrients between cancer and immune cells and the inhibitory effects of accumulated metabolites are known to affect cytotoxic T cell function. Although metabolic reprogramming in tumors and T cells has been extensively studied, the metabolic crosstalk between these cells in the tumor niche has only recently started to be explored.
Our research seeks to answer the following questions:
- Do cancer cells rewire their metabolism as an anti-immune defense?
- How do metabolic pathways regulate antigen-specific T cell tumor infiltration and exhaustion?
- What is the role of mitochondria in supporting anti-tumor T cell functions?
By addressing these questions, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic dynamics within the tumor microenvironment and their impact on immunotherapy outcomes. This knowledge will pave the way for innovative therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes.
Future projects and goals
The overarching goals of our research include:
- Cancer cell metabolism and immune evasion: We are studying how cancer cells alter their metabolism to evade immune detection and killing by identifying new metabolic genes contributing to immune resistance.
- Metabolic regulation of T cell function: We are investigating how specific metabolic pathways regulate T cell fate and function, with a focus on understanding how the metabolic state of antigen-specific T cells affects their ability to eliminate cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment.
- Mitochondrial contributions to anti-tumor activity: We are evaluating the mechanisms by which mitochondria support anti-tumor T cell functions and developing strategies to enhance T cell performance through mitochondrial modulation.
Dr. Inmaculada Martínez Reyes
Junior Group - partner site Berlin
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin