DR-442 Graph-based modeling of host-microbiome interactions to identify functional modules associated with cancer progression

This project aims to uncover how interactions between the human host and microbes within metastatic tumors influence cancer behavior. We will first build a network of host-microbe interactions using advanced computational techniques to identify immune and metabolic patterns specific to metastatic tumors. Next, we will investigate how these interactions shape the distribution of cancer metastases across the body and predict patient outcomes, including survival and treatment responses to therapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). The project will also explore subgroup-specific differences, including sex and early- versus late-onset cancer, to identify novel therapeutic targets and advance precision oncology.

Caroline Johnson, Yale University, United States