Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Colorectal cancer, which can spread to the abdominal cavity in its late stages, is currently the second and third leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women, respectively. Current treatments, like surgery and heated chemotherapy directly into the abdomen, are aggressive but often ineffective, with 75% of patients experiencing relapse within a few years. To improve outcomes, our team developed a new approach using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver an immune-boosting agent directly to the abdominal area. This method, when combined with conventional chemotherapy, was able to cure 80% of the mice in our study with this type of cancer spread, a significant improvement over either treatment alone. Furthermore, the treated mice showed resistance to cancer relapse, indicating a strong, lasting immune response. Over the next few years, my PhD research will focus on understanding how this treatment works by studying its effects on different immune cells and metabolites in the tumor environment. We will monitor changes during the course of the treatment to observe key factors that contribute to treatment success. I will also test the effectiveness of this approach in another mouse model to see if it can be applied more broadly. These efforts aim to provide a more effective treatment option for patients with advanced colorectal cancer, reducing relapse rates and improving overall outcomes.