Development of imaging approaches to monitor tumor-reactive T cells in vivo (C10*)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 68647618

Immunotherapy is revolutionizing oncology although therapeutic evaluation remains challenging. We developed a highly sensitive Immuno-PET imaging to track human cancer-specific T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic T cells in vivo. We will improve and extend our technology by selection of general T-cell targets and clinically attractive tracers. Novel tracers and imaging tools will be tested using diverse tumor models and TCR to explore their capacity to monitor biological significant differences of T-cell distribution within the tumor microenvironment. Quantitative co-registration tools will be established including multimodal analyses to validate biological findings and investigate relevant determinants.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 824: Imaging for Selection, Monitoring and Individualisation of Cancer Therapies
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Privatdozent Dr. Calogero D`Alessandria, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Angela Krackhardt