Role of Extracellular vesicles induced by innate immune pathways in cancer immunosurveillance

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hendrik Poeck
• Subject Area: Immunology ; Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541642079

Secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as an important mechanism of intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment. Aberrant immune signaling pathways in tumor cells that regulate the biogenesis and often immunosuppressive function of such EVs remain unknown. Led by our recent discoveries about cancer-intrinsic roles of IFN-I-coupled pathways in modulation of cancer immunosurveillance, we here aim to understand the role of tumor-intrinsic cytosolic RIG-I and STING in the generation and function of immunogenic EVs to influence cancer immunosurveillance and -therapy. To this end, we are using selective receptor ligands, genetically engineered tumour cell lines and a combination of preclinical in vivo melanoma models, organoid-based models, next-generation sequencing and quantitative proteomic approaches. Our long-term goal is to translate these findings into clinical use, where we aim to tailor the activities of tumour-specific T cells using autologous, tumour-derived immunomodulatory EVs for personalized cancer treatment.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants