B Cell Engineering and Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Induction via Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy
BeaT-IT seeks to enhance cancer immunotherapy by optimizing B cell activation and tertiary lymphoid structure formation using nano-/biomaterials for improved tumor treatment outcomes.
Projectdetails
Introduction
Recent clinical evidence points to a potential new direction in immuno-oncology: utilizing B cells and B cell-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). B cells display diverse immunological actions, including antibody production, antigen presentation, cytokine secretion, and TLS induction.
Dual Role of B Cells
They have a dual role: they can initiate and reinforce anti-cancer immunity, but B cells can also acquire regulatory phenotypes.
Objectives
To open up a new immunotherapeutic paradigm, I aim to understand how to optimally activate B cells, using nano-/biomaterials which load and precisely release a variety of agents to stimulate B cells and to suppress B cell regulatory phenotypes.
Scaffold Manufacturing
Furthermore, I will manufacture porous scaffolds based on injectable microgels or via 3D printing with microgel fibers to induce TLS formation. The scaffolds with tunable porosity will allow:
- B cells and other immune/stromal cells to infiltrate, arrange, and expand
- Soluble factors to diffuse
Moreover, the scaffolds can be easily functionalized with different chemical cues to stimulate B cells for TLS formation, such as CXC-chemokine ligand 13 and interleukin-7. This will help us understand TLS induction.
Ex Vivo and In Vivo Studies
Importantly, I will use ex vivo engineered TLS to study what microenvironmental factors influence their functionality. Subsequently, in vivo formation of B cell-associated TLS will be induced by the scaffolds.
Combined Therapies
B cell activation and TLS induction will be combined for tumor therapy, and the potential abscopal effect of the treatment to address metastases will be studied. The materials will be further combined with checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy to reach synergism.
Testing in Patient-Derived Tumors
In addition, the new therapeutic strategies will be tested in patient-derived tumors established in humanized mice.
Conclusion
BeaT-IT aims to understand optimal B cell activation and TLS formation with nano-/biomaterials to establish a new direction in immuno-oncology, which is anticipated to realize an upcoming breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
Subsidiebedrag | € 1.488.762 |
Totale projectbegroting | € 1.488.762 |
Tijdlijn
Startdatum | 1-7-2022 |
Einddatum | 30-6-2027 |
Subsidiejaar | 2022 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM AACHENpenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
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---|---|---|---|---|
Engineering B cells to fight cancerThis project aims to develop a novel cancer immunotherapy using engineered B cells to enhance anti-tumor responses through targeted gene integration and localized immune activation. | ERC Consolid... | € 1.996.250 | 2022 | Details |
Targeting tertiary lymphoid structures using magneto-marginationThe project aims to develop injectable superparamagnetic particles for non-invasive mapping and thermal destruction of tertiary lymphoid structures to improve diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation and cancer. | ERC Consolid... | € 1.970.480 | 2025 | Details |
Engineering and Delivering B Cells Using Biomaterials against Breast CancerEND-BC aims to enhance B cell adoptive cell therapy for breast cancer using novel biomaterials to improve efficacy, reduce side effects, and lower treatment costs. | ERC Proof of... | € 150.000 | 2024 | Details |
Developing novel single-cell technologies to model and perturb intra-tumor interactions and signaling – an innovation program for the next generation of immunotherapiesThe TROJAN-Cell project aims to engineer immune responses against tumors by understanding immune-suppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment using advanced single-cell technologies. | ERC Advanced... | € 2.500.000 | 2022 | Details |
Polyclonal anti-tumor immunity by engineered human T cellsThis project aims to enhance adoptive T cell therapies for solid tumors by engineering TCR sensitivity and safety, creating robust, antigen-agnostic immune responses to improve patient outcomes. | ERC Starting... | € 1.812.500 | 2022 | Details |
Engineering B cells to fight cancer
This project aims to develop a novel cancer immunotherapy using engineered B cells to enhance anti-tumor responses through targeted gene integration and localized immune activation.
Targeting tertiary lymphoid structures using magneto-margination
The project aims to develop injectable superparamagnetic particles for non-invasive mapping and thermal destruction of tertiary lymphoid structures to improve diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation and cancer.
Engineering and Delivering B Cells Using Biomaterials against Breast Cancer
END-BC aims to enhance B cell adoptive cell therapy for breast cancer using novel biomaterials to improve efficacy, reduce side effects, and lower treatment costs.
Developing novel single-cell technologies to model and perturb intra-tumor interactions and signaling – an innovation program for the next generation of immunotherapies
The TROJAN-Cell project aims to engineer immune responses against tumors by understanding immune-suppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment using advanced single-cell technologies.
Polyclonal anti-tumor immunity by engineered human T cells
This project aims to enhance adoptive T cell therapies for solid tumors by engineering TCR sensitivity and safety, creating robust, antigen-agnostic immune responses to improve patient outcomes.
Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
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Breakthrough Neoantigen-specific Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Therapies Through Novel Dendritic Cell ReprogrammingThe Repro-TIL project aims to enhance tumor-reactive TIL expansion for more effective immunotherapy in solid tumors, paving the way for improved treatment outcomes and commercialization. | EIC Transition | € 2.480.367 | 2025 | Details |
RESTORING IMMUNITY CONTROL OF GI CANCERSTIMNano aims to develop a novel cancer immunotherapy platform using targeted biodegradable nanoparticles to enhance immune responses against gastrointestinal cancers, progressing through clinical trials and commercialization. | EIC Transition | € 2.007.750 | 2025 | Details |
Breakthrough Neoantigen-specific Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Therapies Through Novel Dendritic Cell Reprogramming
The Repro-TIL project aims to enhance tumor-reactive TIL expansion for more effective immunotherapy in solid tumors, paving the way for improved treatment outcomes and commercialization.
RESTORING IMMUNITY CONTROL OF GI CANCERS
TIMNano aims to develop a novel cancer immunotherapy platform using targeted biodegradable nanoparticles to enhance immune responses against gastrointestinal cancers, progressing through clinical trials and commercialization.