TUMOUR IMMUNE ACTIVATION AND EVASION

Study of the immunological mechanisms involved in tumour recognition

Our group is interested on the response of Natural killer (NK) cells against cancer using mainly two human models: urological tumours and melanoma. The response of NK cells against cancer is mediated through the activation of receptors such as NKG2D, which recognises stress-related molecules on target cells. We offer two projects, one focussing on the biology of the ligands for NKG2D and their biological functions when they are on the surface of extracellular vesicles, and a second project, studying the changes in immune cells resulting in their ability to recognise and eliminate bladder cancer cells. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is very frequent in Spain and represents a high cost in human lives. The election treatment for this disease, involving the instillation of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) into the bladder, leads to tumour elimination and a lower recurrence in about 70% of patients. Although it has been used for several decades, the factors underlying the success of this therapy are largely unknown. Superficial bladder cancer is very invasive and, for this reason, it is important to identify non-responder patients at an early stage, since not to do so results in rapid tumour advance. In this project, we will identify those factors that potentiate the anti-tumour activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells and the role of other immune cells in stimulating this response.