Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Despite major advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the immune response against cancer, several obstacles limit the clinical efficacy of current immunotherapies. A major issue is that some tumours have barriers that block the infiltration of T cells and other immune cells. Such tumors are associated with poor prognosis and limited response to immunotherapy. My project addresses this issue by investigating the molecular mechanisms that exclude immune cells from the tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer. My hypothesis is that the oncogenes that drive cancer growth also promote the formation of immune infiltration barriers. In Aim 1, I will use state-of-the-art computer algorithms to search publicly available databases for gene and protein information linking oncogene signalling to the presence or absence of immune responses in over 300 cancer patients. In Aim 2, I will use mouse models to determine whether modulating these oncogene signals can unleash the immune response against tumors and increase the response to immunotherapies. The results will help us create more effective treatments to help the immune system eradicate ovarian and related cancers.