Targeting bicarbonate transport as a “first-in-class” therapeutic strategy to promote CD8+ T cell fitness and enhance cancer immunotherapy
This project aims to develop and commercialize bicarbonate transporter blockers to enhance CD8+ T cell efficacy and improve immunotherapy outcomes in pancreatic cancer.
Projectdetails
Introduction
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancer types. It is virtually resistant to any sort of therapy, including the most recent immunotherapies.
Tumor Microenvironment
These tumors are characterized by a strong hypoxic, nutrient-poor, and acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), in which cytotoxic CD8+ T cells are excluded or absent. In the context of tumor acidity, the role of bicarbonate transporters, key regulators of pH homeostasis, has mostly been neglected so far.
Research Findings
Supported by the ERC consolidator grant ImmunoFit, we recently unveiled that the metabolic editing of the TME via inhibition of a specific bicarbonate transporter in cancer cells represents a novel robust therapeutic strategy. This strategy aims to:
- Mitigate the acidity of the TME
- Increase the fitness of CD8+ T cells
- Render current immunotherapeutic regimens more effective in pancreatic cancer
Proposed Strategy
To progress on the path from ground-breaking research towards innovation, we now propose to de-risk the target by delivering early lead compounds (i.e., blockers) with proven therapeutic efficacy and synergism with immunotherapies in several preclinical tumor models.
Collaboration and Commercialization
These compounds will be valorized for add-on cancer therapy through follow-up R&D collaborations and/or licensing agreements with Pharmaceutical & Biotech companies. This will lead to the commercialization of our sciences and broad societal impact with the deliverable of a brand-new therapeutic approach and combination regimens which are urgently required to tackle tumor resistance or refractoriness vis-à-vis immunotherapies.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
Subsidiebedrag | € 150.000 |
Totale projectbegroting | € 150.000 |
Tijdlijn
Startdatum | 1-9-2022 |
Einddatum | 29-2-2024 |
Subsidiejaar | 2022 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- VIB VZWpenvoerder
Land(en)
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Actionable metabolite supplements to improve treatment response in pancreatic cancer
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PRO CellecT
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