Targeting Tumor Metabolism

A specialized subset of immune cells in humans called cytotoxic T cells can recognize and eliminate malignant or transformed cells. Most of these T cells distinguish tumors from healthy tissues by recognizing mutated peptides presented by specialized antigen-presenting molecules called MHC I present on the surface of every cell in our body. However, some of these T cells, called unconventional T cells sensitive to a wide range of organic molecules, including small metabolites, drugs, and drug metabolites. This project aims to investigate how to advance current treatments for different cancer types, avoiding relapses and targeting drug-resistant tumors by implementing the activity of unconventional T cells. Targeting tumor metabolism with unconventional T cells will bring multiple opportunities, especially for pediatric oncology. Low immunogenicity of pediatric tumors to the conventional, peptide-specific T cells is one of the main problems for oncologists. The fact that many tumors regardless of their origin rely on robust reprogramming of common metabolic pathways for their survival provides us with a unique opportunity to target these pathways with metabolite-specific T cells. This strategy might allow us to develop a common treatment equally efficient in the different types of cancer and help to improve the outcome of current treatments.

A specialized subset of immune cells in humans called cytotoxic T cells can recognize and eliminate malignant or transformed cells. Most of these T cells distinguish tumors from healthy tissues by recognizing mutated peptides presented by specialized antigen-presenting molecules called MHC I present on the surface of every cell in our body. However, some of these T cells, called unconventional T cells sensitive to a wide range of organic molecules, including small metabolites, drugs, and drug metabolites. "Targeting Tumor Metabolism (TATUM)" project aims to investigate how to advance current treatments for different cancer types, avoiding relapses and targeting drug-resistant tumors by implementing the activity of unconventional T cells. Targeting tumor metabolism with unconventional T cells will bring multiple opportunities, especially for pediatric oncology. Low immunogenicity of pediatric tumors to the conventional, peptide-specific T cells is one of the main problems for oncologists. The fact that many tumors regardless of their origin rely on robust reprogramming of common metabolic pathways for their survival provides us with a unique opportunity to target these pathways with metabolite-specific T cells. This strategy might allow us to develop a common treatment equally efficient in the different types of cancer and help to improve the outcome of current treatments.