Identification of blood circulating dietary nutrients to empower anti-tumor neoepitope specific TCR T cells (17)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 318346496

Cancer mutations give rise to neoantigens (neoAg) that serve as clinically relevant immuno-therapeutic targets. Generating an effective anti-tumor T cell response is a key event in the successful rejection of tumor, therefore neoAg specific T cells are crucial players for achieving favorable outcomes in cancer treatment. In our project we aim to dissect the biochemistry be-hind the tumor control mechanisms which modulate biology and functions of the neoAg TCR engineered (neoTCR) T cell. We will investigate the immune surveillance effects of blood circulating nutrients/metabolites in tumour-bearing mice undergoing immunotherapy treatments. We will test their potential to improve anti-tumor therapies based on adoptive neoTCR T cell transfer or vaccine-generated T cell immunity against known neoAg of pre-clinical cancer models.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1292: Targeting convergent mechanisms of inefficient immunity in tumors and chronic infections
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Dr. Sebastian Kreiter, until 12/2025; Professor Dr. Ugur Sahin; Dr. Fulvia Vascotto