Anti-tumor T Cell Priming and Recruitment During Oncolytic Immunotherapy (Renewal of: Determinants of Measles virus-mediated anti-tumor immunity)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Christine Engeland
• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: from 2015 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278620763

Cancer immunotherapy provides the potential for long-term tumor control by induction of anti-tumor immunity. Despite the recent progress in this field, not all patients benefit from the novel immunotherapeutics. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that tumor-reactive T cells are a main determinant of response. Previously, we have developed immunomodulatory vectors for oncolytic virotherapy which trigger tumor-specific T cell responses. We hypothesize that specific virus-induced alterations of the tumor microenvironment enable these effects. This project aims to identify the immune cells, cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and stromal components determining therapeutic success. We will perform systematic gain- and loss-of-function studies in mouse models and validate our findings in patient-derived tumor models. The results have implications for improvement of oncolytic virotherapy and cancer immunotherapy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants