Overcoming immune escape of KMT2A-rearranged acute leukaemia during immune recognition (P22*)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine ; Clinical Immunology and Allergology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441891347

In P22N we investigate in Aim 1 the functional role of the KMT2A-r-induced immunosuppressive molecules CD112, CD155, TIM-3 and Gal-9 in the anti-tumour effects of allo-HSCT and CAR T cells using pharmacological and genetic approaches. In Aim 2 we will dissect the signalling and transcriptional mechanisms downstream of KMT2A-r that cause the upregulation of these immunosuppressive molecules. In Aim 3, we will validate our findings in human samples that carry KMT2A-r and xenograft models, and test novel combinatorial immunotherapies to prevent immune escape in KMT2A-r leukaemia.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1479: Oncogene-driven immune escape (OncoEscape)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Tobias Feuchtinger; Dr. Kristina Maas-Bauer