Thoracic oncology and immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapies aim to generate novel or amplify existing anti-tumor immune responses in patients but still the majority does not respond durably for reasons incompletely understood. We and others have previously shown lymph nodes to be crucial sites for effective anti-tumor T-cell immunity following cancer immunotherapy. My current research focusses on understanding how exactly anti-tumor T-cell responses are generated, or alternatively, impeded in TDLNs of solid tumors. To this end, we employ state-of the art techniques (incl. multi-color flow cytometry, single-cell sequencing, imaging mass cytometry) and a wide range of preclinical models allowing us the visualize and interrogate TDLN function in lung cancer, mesothelioma, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. The goal of these studies in to identify novel biomarkers for treatment response and targets for effective combination therapy to improve quality of life and survival of cancer patients.