Overcoming immune evasion of BRAF mutant colorectal cancer (P14)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Gastroenterology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441891347

Efficacious therapies for BRAFV600E driven colorectal cancer represent an unmet clinical need. We show that BRAFV600E promotes immune escape, thereby supporting the development of therapies rationally combining kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors. To provide the necessary mechanistic insights, we generated a syngenic model for this disease that faithfully responds to clinically relevant drugs and establishes aggressive tumors with distinct immune cell infiltrates. We will use this immunocompetent mouse model to identify novel combination therapies. Findings will be validated in human biopsies and patient-derived organoids.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1479: Oncogene-driven immune escape (OncoEscape)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Tilman Brummer