DR-424 Dissecting cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms dictating the immune landscape of cancer

Immunotherapy has shown great success in treating multiple cancer types. However, not all patients benefit from immunotherapy. We are studying why immune responses vary between patients. We discovered that certain genetic mutations in mouse tumors either attract or repel immune cells, and that the presence of certain immune cells influences the response to immunotherapy. We observed similar patterns in human breast cancer samples derived from the TCGA. Data from the Hartwig Medical Foundation will help us analyze how genetic changes in tumor cells affect immune cells in various cancers, such as breast, lung, and melanoma. Access to this data is essential for improving cancer treatments based on genetic profiles.

Karin de Visser, Netherlands Cancer Institute, the Netherlands