The presentation of chopped parts of proteins by all cells to an important population of immune cells, T-cells, is key in the detection and targeting of cancer. In the development of cancer, tumors tend to develop properties to avoid detection by the immune system and evade destruction, leading to disease progression.
Within the cell, proteins get chopped up into smaller molecules called peptides. A molecule called MHC-I (major histocompatibility complex class I) is responsible for presenting peptides on the surface of antigen presenting cells. In case of cancers, strange peptides created from abnormal proteins may be presented that differ from healthy cells. T-cells can flag these abnormal MHC-I-peptide complexes to deal with the flagged threat to our health. Paediatric cancers are known to have a low mutational burden, making that less abnormal peptides will be presented to T-cells.
Together with dr. Annelisa Cornel and Ester Dünnebach, my research focusses on unraveling which MHC-I presented peptides are unique to tumor cells. We identify these unique peptides and isolate specific T-cells recognizing these unique peptides. We will study their potential as novel immunotherapeutic strategies to boost patients’ immune systems to eliminate cancer.